28 October 2024

Customer Question – Treating Fuchsia Gall Mite NOW?

Q. “Hi – I now know my fuchsia have gall mite having read the info on your site. Is it too late in the year to use the sachets? Should I just remove all leaves as one is badly affected and hope it survives the winter and start using them next year?” Liz

A. Thanks for the question and normally I would say wait until the spring, but it is very mild at the moment (15c in Suffolk in late October!) and my fuchsias are still flowering and look great, so if yours are like mine it would be worth placing some sachets now. The more mites you kill now the less there will be to over-winter and re-appear next spring, so an application now is sensible especially as the forecast looks good for a number of weeks – the Predator Mites only need a daytime temp of 10c plus to be 100% active. I would cut off as much galled growth as possible and then position the sachets. Once the leaves have finally fallen, clear away as much debris from under the plants (the mites like to hide in it) and then cut back the fuchsias as normal i.e. do it then or in the spring. Once new growth appears in the spring, keep an eye on it and then position new Fuchsia Gall Mite Sachets as soon as the 1st sign of any Gall Mite appears. The sooner you can introduce the sachets the better. I hope this helps. Kind regards Jon @ Green Gardener

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