Saw a whole greenhouse get wiped out by a single pest at the Denver Botanic Gardens last fall

They had a big show of rare orchids, and someone must have brought in an infested plant. Within two weeks, almost every specimen in the Orchid Pavilion had spider mites. The staff had to remove and treat over 200 plants. It really made me double-check every new plant I bring home now. Has anyone else had a pest spread that fast in their collection?

3 comments

3 Comments

cameron4261mo ago

Yeah I learned the same lesson after losing a whole shelf of succulents to mealybugs that spread before I even noticed. Now I quarantine everything for at least 3 weeks and check every nook and cranny with a magnifying glass before it goes near the rest. That separate room idea is the best insurance you can buy honestly.

casey3932mo ago

Actually, spider mites aren't insects, they're arachnids. Good call, @michael_bennett11.

michael_bennett112mo ago

Yeah, that's rough. I keep new plants in a separate room for a month now, just in case.