What you see is the trichomes - leaf hair. When a leaf leaf starts shrinking - because it dessicating - can be because of the toxins from the mite bites - the trichomes become closer and have this dense forest appearance. The mites are yellowish semi-transparent - and they move away from the light - so your microscope should show if they scoot away when you just turn the microscope light on - and after they are in hiding -you won't see them.

I think at that point treating the whole collection with Forbid is a good idea. Neem oil is a contact poison - if you do not get them at once - they survive and propagate. WHile Forbid saturates tissues - has so called translaminar qualities - so even if the mite is not poisoned immediately - it is doomed when it tries to feed again.

Dividing collection on isolated plants and not isolated plants is a moot point now - spray every single plant in the house.

Review. About the clip on magnifier :

usable with my iPhone. Can use with case, but easier with my case off. Cheap. Uses the camera feature of your phone. I zoomed in a little so I didn't feel like I was looking through a microscope. it was pretty easy to use since you see everything through your phone screen.

I thought it worked better without the light. It also has a UV light that makes everything a pretty blue. I'm sure it has to do more with looking at THC crystals.

Limitations:

i still don't know what I was looking for. --the scope has to almost touch the leave to become in focus. - it is very difficult/near impossible to really see under the leaves since the object has to be so close to view. I didn't see any mites, but I couldn't really inspect under the leaves, probably where they hide. I sat next to my light stand & it gave plenty of light to see-- but maybe it was too much lights to make the mites hide?? I saw something move once, but my camera went out of focus. Who knows what it was?!! Also, AV hair moves under the wind of the fan or moving the plant. It would be best to use a something to hold the phone steady so you have 2 hands to manipulate the plant around while you view the leaf.

Is it perfect? No. I feel it could still be helpful. I'm not convinced I don't have any mites by not seeing any. It kept me entertained for a day if anything. And I'll keep trying to use it in case I do find something.

I didn't think I'd see anything. I found the close ups interesting & knew someone here would know more of what I was looking at! I knew something wasn't right! Thank you so much! The only other plants I have are 2 peace lilies & a thanksgiving cactus (but it blooms every year on Veterans Day -- in honor of my dad )

I already ordered the Forbid on eBay since I had that feeling & it came today. On Elsa's post, I saw that you said to saturate it, etc. Do I need to let it dry on the plant? Or dry the crowns a little with a paper towel? eeeek! I'm so glad I can get rid of them! Thanks again!

And here's a pic of my cactus.

Oh, I forgot... Do I need to repot? I know to clean pots, etc.

Just spray them - and let them dry naturally - out of direct light or fluorescent light. . If you mix your Forbid with a very warm water - the resulting spray is not going to chill the plants. I usually add several drops of Down dishwashing soap for better wetting.

I am against dipping them in a solution - the amount of dirt that is going to float in this water.... yuck. But may be other people are more handy than I and do it without mixing soil with water and creating muck.

Repotting is not going to affect mites, they do not live in the root system. But regular repotting is always good.

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I am saving a few leaves from the nicer plants. Soak them in ⅓ alcohol, correct? And how long?

I'm upside dunking today, with Saran Wrap around the top of pot under the leaves. Works ok, but I agree with you that spraying would be easiest!

I am spraying now myself. I managed to keep thrips at bay most of the summer... - but i think I eventually got some and I think I got a very suspicious tray from Convention...may be mites. Kept is separate and covered - they looked OK, got them from under the dome... and the centers look strange now. Then I found several plants with powdery mildew. Mixed a couple of gallons of this and that - and now dragging things to the bathroom and back. Garage is way too cold.

I did dunking once - NEVER AGAIN!

No. They do only enter your house with other AVs. But they can travel on your clothes - so if you went to Home Depot - and looked at cyclamens - you could bring them home on your sleeves.

I am sure that Optimara violets do not have mites when they leave their growing facility - but being in a garden deparment of the big store... they could pick anything.

So if you do not plan to add to your collection, you do not need to spray. Neem oi is a good preventative for the Powdery Mildew - and this is a time of the year. I found already several plants with it.

If you get leaves - dip them in a strong Clorox solution or 1/3 rubbing alcohol with water - for a couple minutes - and recut. Bugs will die.

Elsa, I never saw anything but I knew things weren't right. I looked at a few several times, but the clip on was a limitation that made it difficult to peek under the leaves.

I have no idea how I got my mites either! I haven't introduced any new AVs or plants into the house for > 18 months. I quit looking at AVs at Lowe's, etc because they always look terrible. Anyway, I guess I have them

Luckily, the only variety I am concerned with isn't as bad as above (NOID that my grandma gave me 14-15 years ago). Hopefully, I can produce a few healthy ones now that I've made a billion mistakes & learned from them. I did start a few leaves & will see how it goes. good luck with your mites too, Elsa

and thank you everyone for help! Someday, I'll post a pretty pic.

~Betina

I was also surprised that Forbid doesn't really have an odor. If I have to use forbid again, I would spray the plants in my basement sink.

I am still spraying a first stand...20 trays...and yes - the tray of starters from Convention had mites. I sprayed them and now they will go into a transparent crate... None of the rest shows any signs of infection. But the goodies I have there - I will try to save... Admiral, #32, Bashou, Black Night of the Soul, Lituanika, Buckley Spoon...GRRRR!!!

Irina, I also have Bashou! I really like it. It is a happy little plant and makes me smile every time I look at it! Now as far as the rest of your list,,,,I have some openings on MY Wish List! Specially that spoon variety. There aren't that many spoons anymore! lol Rosie

I poisoned the mites - they already should be belly up - but need to watch for the new generation. I will probably lose Admiral and #32, weak plantlets with centers killed by mites. Spoon will survive and Dark Night of the Soul will make it. Lituanika and Bashou - I will wait until the mites are gone- and put leaves down. After centers are so damaged - it will never be a good plant - but I can always start a new one.

I had another trailer by Francine Pilon - "Kesha" - and accidentally sold it off on my council sale thinking I have another one home... Anyway - if you ever get hold of it - it is an excellent semi-mini trailer, very variegated and always in bloom.

Oh Irina, sorry that you may lose some violets. Glad many will survive. Ok, I put trailer "Kesha" on my list, hey, you never know what I may come across in my travels! Rosie

I wonder if it make sense that one of the AV's center look a little bit more greyish after dunk in forbid. Should I apply forbid again? I still have another healthy AV and the center still look green. The planlets are all ok as well.

I removed all the damaged leaves in the center for the affected plants. Will new leave still grow from the center? I saw one AV start growing suckers which it never has.

thanks

elsa

Elsa - the greyish tint is the result of the mites bites - i think their saliva is extremely poisonous for the plants. The mites can be gone, but the damage is done. If you successfully killed the mites the new leaves will emerge and eventually the plant will grow out of it. If you start removing the center now - you will add to the injury and can kill the growth point. I would say - wait untill the center is replaced, then you can start chipping the damaged ones.

If the plant started growing suckers - the growth point is already gone. But the suckers will grow fast and you can harvest them and root them in a couple of months and discard the old plant. The purpose of this exercise is to preserve all the varieties you have and save most of the plants.

If you want t repeat treatment - wait for a week - and spray. Not necessary as they say = but to kill the new generation. just in case.

Oh. I see. I was too quick to remove the eye sore. I will wait for the sucker then. Thanks Irina

I did the same Elsa. I removed the ugly greying leaves as I saw them as I didn't want to spread whatever I had -- I didn't know what was going on then except they were eye sores. I believe I removed more before I dunked after everyone here helped me know it was mites.

I have a few suckers starting to grow now. How big should I wait to pick them off? Then I replant the sucker & bag until roots, correct?

betina

LOL. Betina, I'm with you. I tossed 2 plants and put down the leaves. Sky Azure has flowers growing in the center right now. I might propagate from sucker or flower stalk ( I never try this method but people said it will be more possible to bloom true). I removed 2 leaves in the center of Ian Minuet. I hope it will be more forgiving and start to grow new leaves in the center. :(

Elsa