Arrrgh!!!

I THINK it's spider mites. I'll have to get the plant disease reference to check.

At Christmas, I moved the plants that reside along three of the big windows in the living room to make room for the Christmas tree. I have to admit, the Christmas tree is still up, because I've been enjoying it, and I've had other things to do. It has to come down before next Friday, when my quilting bee returns for the second time after Christmas, so I have a goal. But, until then, I'm going to enjoy it, darn it all!

Back to the subject... I've been growing a small, shrubby tree that was originally part of a mixed planting that was given to my mother years ago. It was perhaps two feet tall then, and is roughly four feet tall, with a spread of four feet. I love the silly thing, but it's been hard on it, having to grow inside. We've had some leaf drop, and I thought it was due to my erratic watering, but now I think that it could be due to an infestation of spider mites. I can see small white "bits" on the underside of the leaves on about half the plant.

I'm fairly sure that this problem came into the house on a plant that was give to my Mother. That plant has been residing in the garage (read: dead, frozen, but not yet buried), since November. Apparently we weren't quick enough to see the problem, and now, it's spread. I'll have to keep an eye on all the plants in the house.

My first line of defense will be to wash the leaves with Safer Soap. If that doesn't resolve the issue, more drastic efforts might be necessary. Research first, attack later is the plan. I hope I'm not too late to save this plant. It's an old friend.