One of my bald cypress had cottony masses on the roots. Guess what? They’ve all got it. I ordered my nematodes from Arbico Organics. I treated everything, EVERYTHING, with the nematodes. The same day I ordered the nematodes, I ordered a cheap digital microscope from Wish. I thought I’d like to see what I’m eradicating before they’re eradicated. Then, as long as I had all that video, I may as well put it all together, right?
Fresh out of the cutting room: “Bald Cypress Bonsai: Root Aphids”
Wow. They’re even more repulsive up close. Thanks for producing that. How do you plan to verify the efficacy of the nematodes? Will you dig around a bit after a couple of treatments to see if you can find any more aphids, or will you base it on tree health? Either way, please update us.
Awesome video. You should find a way to video the nematodes attacking the aphids!
The bald cypress that are still growing in tubs are easy to check. I just tip the tree out of the tub and that’s how I got the little beasties for today. I’ll look again in a few months.
If only. I’d capture their little screams if I had the right microphone.
Freaking AWSOME…
I DO see nematodes infrequently when potting. Never see root aphids. I have seen mycelium, especually on pine roots, even one truffle in my oak forest…
Give it a month for them to hatch and grow… then do another video! I want to hear em scream!!
Love the music…
Cool video BB, I use something similar at work for insect inspection.
Thanks. Uhmmmm, what if the bugs don’t pass inspection?
Well we have a very tough selection process, the rejected get a pesticide shower and expulsion. On the serious side we do use a extensive inspection process to minimize the pesticides we put into the environment. Only spraying the plants that need it, the typical company in my industry blankets every plant on a property 4-6 times per year.
Cool video but why spend all that money on nematodes when a $10 jug of Orthene ant killer takes care of the problem well?
The one straw revolution philosophy @JGeanangel
I’ve seen it recommended to use diatomaceous earth in powdered form to dust plants to get rid of regular aphids, it made me wonder if using granular DE in your soil would prevent root aphids.
Work with us here John…
We are establishing a base for people to ‘believe’ natural is better. (I personally have always known and practiced this… I have nematodes naturally in my bonsai…).
When handled naturally, keeping your plants healthy, they (bug infestations) should, almost, maybe, not ever be a problem.
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Nematodes for root aphids. Lady bugs (Google the real ugly juvanile form!) and mantis to stop leaf aphids. Spiders ARE good bugs, too. These always show up at the same time as the bad bugs; except nematodes, they do not have wings, or feet, or crawl far fast…[Shotgun for rats?.. no, use rattlesnakes…
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Orthene etc are mostly toxic and carcingenic. These indiscriminantly KILL everything, including the good bugs, including bees…
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Chemicals do have their proper place, though. I keep bug and fungal sprays as a last ditch nuclear attack for self (MY BONSAI, not your food!) preservation… like whitefly and pine needle fungi. I somewhat agree with you on the ants, they need to farm some where else. Nuke the basta_____ where they live…, no, wait, nematodes run the ants off! (Really…)
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Balance of water and oxygen, oh ya, nematodes, microhrizza, akadama, organic fertilizer, and…
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Just for fun, watch the 1972 movie Silent Running… Love the bots.
I have to remind myself that spiders are good for helping to protect my bonsai and not kill them when they drop from a branch and scare me.
I DO make exception for the brown recluse, AND Hobo spiders. Pretty nasty bites. They get a BRICK up alongside the head… Pretty effective. Really, anything large enough to crush em…
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For some reason, I’m seeing dozens of em…
Must be that balance of water n oxygen thing…
In the US, most spiders are not dangerous. I have spiny orb Weaver’s in my yard. They’re my heroes.
Once, on a hike with friends and their kids, we encountered many colonies of large golden orb weavers. They’re harmless but their web colonies are tough and sticky. One of the moms on the hike is about 6 feet tall. Where other moms walked under webs without seeing the webs, she walked right into it. Hilarity for all. These spiders are 4 to 5 inches across and the colonies go in for several feet in all directions.
Sorry guys…I see what we have here… I suppose you all use bugs to fight the bugs in your bodies as well??? All things considered…years of training and work, lots of $, small containers being treated, watching many fail at natural pest control…I’ll stick with my pesticides… ya’ll have fun
My bowels are out of whack. Doctor wants me to eat more Greek yogurt. He said something about developing the microorganisms in my intestines.
Given that I’m currently taking twelve medications, ahem, chemicals every day, a cup full of microorganisms is a welcome change.
Why, yes, John. Thank you for asking. I am currently re-innocilating flora and fauna in my gut microbiom.
Flue; feaver kills the virus, and most of the good bacteria. Cleaned out and sterilized digestive track.
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Balance of water and oxygen, organic food, and judicious use of scotch. I DO keep the nuclear option handy. In case I’m over run…
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BTW, virus and bacteria have been using genetic modification forever. GMO. They are two steps ahead of humans… Pennicilian doesn’t kill all staph infections anymore… Some pesticides don’t work now, too.
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ALSO, agent orange defoliant exposure is SO carcinigenic it makes your grandchildren limp…
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Now, about those bonsai pests…
Kurt, don’t forget vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox. They’re all live vaccines. The first inoculations against smallpox was done using cowpox. Transporting cowpox from Europe to the Americas was done using a boatload of orphans as an infection chain.
Source: http://nowiknow.com/the-smallpox-boat/
And if the edema in my legs comes back, I’m considering leeches.