AusBonsai

After reading redddoggy`s post I went out and checked my Crab Apple and it looks like I have the little buggers too.
Is there a plague of them in Sydney.
I have looked at the posts that reddoggy received and it seems like they are fatal, but didn`t want to take over his thread
I have looked up search and even googled them and there does not seem to be a cure other than burn the tree.
This tree just happens to be my best tree and I spent a lot of money on it a few years ago, so I would obviously like to save it
I have read that they don`t like neem oil so what do you guys think that maybe if I bare root it and soak it in neem oil for a few hours would it have any affect, then maybe repot it in an inorganic mix such as Kens 2/3 diatomite and 1/3 zeolite.
I suppose I have nothing to lose by the sound of it.
Are Crab Apples more prone to it than other trees. ?
Will it go thru all my other trees and I have a lot of orchids. do they get it.?
Would appreciate any advice I can get as it really has put me off bonsai.
Paul

I"ve heard that you can bare root, cut away any infected root, use fresh mix etc.. and they may recover. I have also heard that you can get predator? nematodes, that will eat/destroy the bad ones. (never found out where to get them tho...) I've had them once, and I did the bare root, cut away thing, and it appears to have worked (2 yrs on and the tree is still there and healthy) I think it depends on how bad it is.. also if the tree will survive being bare rooted.

I would certainly try the bare rooting and cut off method.

According to this doc, there is no chemical control for them either. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7489.html
Note that they mention that the soil ( for farms I assume), can be killed by elevating the temperature to above 125 deg ( F) for 30 minutes, of above 130 deg for 5 Minutes.
Will this kill the tree? Probably not and may be worth a try.

Maybe wrap the entire Pot and root ball into a Black plastic wrap and leave in the sun. Insert a Thrmometer or therom couple into the soil and after sufficient Heat treatment. Undo the wrap.
You could maybe leave at that and see, or bare root, cut off infection areas. Wash and repot. Treat the tree as Bodhi suggests and see if works.

I have never seen them so maybe not a plague!
According to the above info, the infection is by infected soil, tools equipment.

Ken

Thanks Ken and Paddles, I have got to try something, I am going out to see Ray Nesci tomorrow and see what he suggests, he has forgotten more about plants than I have ever known,
Paul

Hi Paul we use a chemical called vydate to treat nematodes on a banana farm.After a soil test the results were good.it will kill every bug good and bad.good luck

Where do you get it ,is it available in small quantities and is it restricted

You can buy at rural shops like landmark or rural buying ,we get 10liter containers not sure about smaller amounts.maybe track down your local chemical rep.

G'day Paul W ,i read somewhere in the " permaculture world " that you can use brasssica tea to control nematodes. I dont know exactly if it would work in a pot culture. Brassica tea is made from a type of wild mustard ,Brassica rapa. To make the tea you soak the brassica roots in a bucket of water with a lid for two weeks . Maybe soak the rootball in this concoction for an hour. To be honest I don't know If it will work because I have not had to deal with nematodes .
My mate is trying to grow truffles ( a type of fungus or mushroom ) and one thing they have learnt in that industry is that Brassica inhibits the growth of truffles on roots so this could be an indication it could work against other stuff . Hope this helps. Craig

G'day Paul W ,i read somewhere in the " permaculture world " that you can use brasssica tea to control nematodes. I dont know exactly if it would work in a pot culture. Brassica tea is made from a type of wild mustard ,Brassica rapa. To make the tea you soak the brassica roots in a bucket of water with a lid for two weeks . Maybe soak the rootball in this concoction for an hour. To be honest I don't know If it will work because I have not had to deal with nematodes .
My mate is trying to grow truffles ( a type of fungus or mushroom ) and one thing they have learnt in that industry is that Brassica inhibits the growth of truffles on roots so this could be an indication it could work against other stuff . Hope this helps. Craig

Went out to see Ray Nesci yesterday and he said my problem was mealy bug,makes the roots go like that and my roots on the crab apple look exactly like reddoggy`s so now I am completely confused, going to google mealy bugs right now and see if I can work it out and than maybe soak the tree in a confidore solution.

searched and couldn't find anything that resembled that type of root damage with regard to root mealybug----If anybody has any luck could you let us know

Paul W wrote:Went out to see Ray Nesci yesterday and he said my problem was mealy bug,makes the roots go like that and my roots on the crab apple look exactly like reddoggy`s so now I am completely confused, going to google mealy bugs right now and see if I can work it out and than maybe soak the tree in a confidore solution.

was it yamadori -----or a nesci purchase

Hi Paul and others.

Accurate Pest and disease ID is often difficult, but is crucial in bonsai. It needs to be remembered that treating a condition or pest with some chemicals traeatments, only to find that the pest/disease was misdiagnosed/wrongly identified can be just as detrimental to plant health or at times worse than the original problem. Paul it's very sensible that Mr Nesci was consulted on the issue with your Crab Apple, his reputation as a nurseryman is outstanding, perhaps if the affected tree is particularly valuable to you, a 2nd opinion might also be a good idea to confirm Ray Nescis diagnosis.

Regarding Nematodes:

Sno wrote:G'day Paul W ,i read somewhere in the " permaculture world " that you can use brasssica tea to control nematodes. I dont know exactly if it would work in a pot culture. Brassica tea is made from a type of wild mustard ,Brassica rapa. To make the tea you soak the brassica roots in a bucket of water with a lid for two weeks . Maybe soak the rootball in this concoction for an hour. To be honest I don't know If it will work because I have not had to deal with nematodes .
My mate is trying to grow truffles ( a type of fungus or mushroom ) and one thing they have learnt in that industry is that Brassica inhibits the growth of truffles on roots so this could be an indication it could work against other stuff . Hope this helps. Craig

There are a lot of Brassica repa species.

See here:http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s124457.htm Note the mention of soil mycorrhiza in the article.

The Diggers Club http://www.diggers.com.au/search/bio%20mustard.aspx has a Bio Mustard green manure (Brassica juncea)that might do the job.

Cheers,
Mojo

PS Google: "root mealy bug organic treatment" for a few things you can try that wont harm your tree.

Yes I purchased off Ray a couple of years ago, that`s why I consulted him yesterday, I have found him to be very knowledgeable with all soughts of plants not only bonsai.
Thanks for all the valuable feed back.yes I realize it is hard to see what it is from a picture,thats why I went out and saw Ray
Got it soaking in a confidore bath over night,just got to do something as it is shaping up to be one of my best trees, don`t want to loose it.

she who must be obeyed reckons planting lots of marigolds close to the tree does the trick--how long you have to leave them there I dunno.