My HIBISCUS needs help....what the heck are these??

[crimson]

to make a long story short, my Hibiscus has these white things on it.
the leaves are sticky, going brown,some webs, but is still blooming.

when I first bought this plant 3 days later they started appearing. the Nursery thought they might be mites of some sort.

they recommended treating it with sulfur, which I did(downstairs) and stunk like crazy, didn't get rid of them but helped a bit.

now a month later they are back in full swing and getting worse.

I know we have some very good plant enthusiasts on here, any suggestions??

 

[JerseyWendy]

Yes, they look like spider mites to me. You don't have to use sulfur. The easiest way (and non toxic) to get rid of them is to take a spray bottle, fill it up, and blast the leaves on both sides. Do this at least twice a week. If that doesn't nip them in their ugly butts, you can get Neem Oil.

Spider mite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Echo]

I used to have some on a plant. To get rid of them, I took a paper towel and put rubbing alcohol on it and wipes the leaves clean (and anywhere I saw them). Then put it in the shower and rinse.

 

[Kalidasa]

I've sprayed them with rubbing alcohol with success. I hate those things! I just took a big pepper plant outside to spray down, it's infested.
P.S. I love your new profile pic. what a cutie!

 

[MikeyTN]

Another none toxic thing to use is fill a spray bottle with water and put a teaspoon of dish detergent like dawn. Shake it up and spray to soak the plant on front and back side of the leaves.

 

[MarciaLove]

i've had those before I filled a spray bottle with dish soap and water and sprayed on leaves to get them off it worked great.

 

[crimson]

great!, thanks for the suggestions. I was going to use Dawn but wasn't sure if it would do more harm than good on a Hibiscus...I've heard they can be a temperamental plant.

I've used Dawn on my other plants with good success, so I am looking forward to getting rid of them!!

 

[MikeyTN]

I've used it on my hibiscus so trust me you'll be safe!

 

[GaryBV]

Are you sure those are spider mites? I've had spider mites before and they are so small you can hardly see them, you mostly just see the web, but in that photograph there I saw the color white, and that to me means MEALYBUGS, and they do have a cottony kind of web and are sticky. But the fix would be practically the same for both spider mites and mealybugs, clean the leaves with soap and water if you want to use any chemicals. You may lose some leaves anyways, considering the time of year and your in a cold climate like I am, so indoor heating systems. That's a tropical so can be pretty hard to overwinter inside. Here is some info:

This is for mealbugs:

Control and Prevent Mealybugs: Organic Gardening

This is for spider mites:

Garden Therapy Notes, Horticultural Therapy, Gardening, Activities - Spider Mites On Houseplants

Good luck!

 

[crimson]

ARE THESE THINGS SUPPOSE TO FLY??

I sprayed it today, and they start flying around like crazy!!....god only knows where they went off too...ugggg

 

[GaryBV]

hmmmm now that sounds like WHITEFLYS. It is possible that your plant has an infestation of more than one type of pest. Tropical hibiscus are prone to pests as houseplants. I did find this information for you about whiteflys:

Whitefly Control—How to Control Whiteflies on Houseplants

I'm sorry Crimson but if you have any other plants that you may have to cut your loses with this one and put it outside where the freeze can kill all the bugs. I know tropical hibiscus are beautiful, but my own opinion is to treat them as a patio plant and discard them after the winter frosts. We do have hibiscus for northern gardens, particularly the 'hardy hibiscus' that has the largest flowers I've ever seen (I have many) and the old reliable hibiscus - the Rose of Sharon. Sadly neither are good for houseplants.

 

[crimson]

just my luck....thanks for the info, and I will take care of these little pesky bugs

 

[crimson]

HA HAAAAAA!!! I used A.I.L and it kicked their butts!!!!!....
yesterday I sprayed and by this morning 80% were gone, dead....
my plant looks tons better!!

 

[henpecked]

I 'm glad to hear your hibiscus is going to be alright,LOL. I have to laugh because around here they grow wild. They're lots growing in the woods and along the roadside. Have you tried giving your birds branches and flowers? I've heard most parrots love them.

 

[crimson]

I have hibiscus outdoors as well, but they don't grow wild up here, I wish they did, they are just beautiful!

considering I've had issues with critters before, I do not bring anything in from outdoors for my birds. Mites are so prevalent up here, I have to be extra cautious.

One time I brought in one branch, had my daughter Sarah whittle it down, stripped the bark right off it, then I drowned it in A.I.L....yes I am paranoid

 

[henpecked]

I can't imagine that the 'bugs' are as bad up your way as they are down here.Highs in the mid 80's today.Winter is our growing season because of the bugs.