tree infections

suki · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject: tree infections

hi there,

I've already checked this with a local bonsai expert in a nearby gardening centre but just wanted to check with people here too.

On monday when I was checking my serissa I found two things, one was tiny little snails and two what looked like yellowish eggs in the soil under the moss carpet, she also had a few tiny flies circling her since the previous Friday.

I removed the all the eggs from the soil (unfortunately this now means it no longer has it's nice moss carpet and cut back her foliage in the soil. I also physically removed the snails and sprayed insecticide on it.

The tree seems to be alright, there are no more flies or snails and at the moment it is still in flower and most of the leaves are green.

The guy in the local garden centre said not to worry about it, I did the right things and its good that she's actually in flower.

Is this true?? The tree is a Serissa

please help, I don't want the tree to die,

suki

Dick · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: tree infections

First the serissa tree is a very difficult tree to grow for long pewriods of time, especially if you are just starting out in this hobby. If you can read the A-Z entry on serissas you will find out some very important information about them and their care.

Second, the tiny fly life bugs were probably fungus gnats. There is another lengthy discussion about them on this foruom if you do a search

Third, the tiny snails were probably as a result of them being in the growing medium. They probably came in as eggs and hatched since the tree arrived in your locale. They are easy to control and probably the one application of insecticide is already enought to eradicate them.

Fourth, the eggs may not have been eggs but spent fertilizer beads. There is a fertilizer known as osmicote which is a time released variety. Eventually after all the fertilizer has been used up, it often leaves behind the empty, slightly yellow fertilizer beads. They eventually would break down and do not harbor any larva for any critter that I know of.

steve · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: tree infections

I would like to reinforce what the nursery said about flowering. They only flower when they are happy and will definately let you know when they aren't.