Aphid/Spider mite- resistant /shade-loving plants

Discussion in 'Garden Design and Plant Suggestions' started by shadwell, Apr 15, 2008.

  1. shadwell

    shadwell Member

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    Location:
    Portland, OR USA
    I'm in Zone 6 (Portland, OR) and have a 4x3-ish balcony that faces NE. It gets filtered sun for about 3-4 hours or so. The big problem is that the tree that filters the balcony dumps loads of aphids and spider mites onto the balcony. I've had to bring any herbs inside to an east facing window to save them -- and only just barely after lots of spraying with water/soapy water.

    We want to plant some nice hedges or trailing plants along the railing to provide more privacy to our second floor balcony, but given the aphid/spider mite problem -- not to mention the limited light -- I'm not sure what to plant. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

    Thanks so much!
     
  2. karmahappytoes

    karmahappytoes Active Member

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    Location:
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    Hey shadwell, you need to deal with the critter problems first. Do you have a sprayer?
    I recommend hot water sprays for aphid/spider mites with another option is the Blue Can of Raid, don't shoot the messenger here! Mites have become a serious problem not only for humans and plants but bees as well. I would recommend one of the evergreen Clematis or a hardy Passiflora if you are looking for a vine.
     
  3. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    I'd agree with KHT - you've got to get rid of the chompy little critters first. If you want something that's a bit friendlier to your plants than Raid, see if you can find Safer's Insecticidal Soap - this stuff is organic, and kills both spidermites and aphids dead dead dead.

    Then, for vines I'll second evergreen Clematis and hardy Passiflora - see if you can find Passiflora mixta, which is an Ecuadoran native hardy to -15C and produces a really tasty fruit after some very showy flowers. (pic attached of flower) I'm not sure of your zone, but you might also be able to get away with P. incarnata, P. edulis, and P. ligularis. You can also look at Akebia quinata - if you get two these will also produce fruit, but they may become invasive on you.

    The only plants I've ever found that are a) spidermite and aphid resistant, and b) shade dwellers, are the broadleaf conifers - Thuja, Cupressus, Juniperus, and so on. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for though. Thuja occidentalis is particularly nice and is commonly used as a balcony screen here in Quito.

    Below is a picture of the blossom of a typical Ecuadoran P. mixta - Canadian results may vary. In the wild, these things grow close to the snowline on the volcanoes.
     

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    Last edited: Apr 22, 2008
  4. shadwell

    shadwell Member

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    Thanks for the tips!

    Actually I have been looking at some dwarf conifers. The sheer amount of bugs from the overlooking tree is so much that I'd rather just get plants they're not interested in in the first place (I don't even have any plants on the balcony now and there are spider mite webings everywhere!).

    Because it's shady I have been thinking of clematis, though I have to say that passiflora is pretty impressive. I'll have to see how much room I have to mix and match. :-)
     
  5. karmahappytoes

    karmahappytoes Active Member

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    Where are you in Portland? We grow the P. Caerulea here which we find to be the hardiest in this region. There is a plant show this weekend at the Clark County Fairgrounds and one of the areas best Clemmie grower will be out there if you come north. I sure would not be adding until you figure our a way to control the pests or ya know putting bird feeders out might help control some also?
     
  6. shadwell

    shadwell Member

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    I'm in downtown Portland. As much as I would *love* to go to that plant show, as well as a few others around town, unfortunately I have a serious chronic illness which makes it difficult for me to get out and about -- another reason I'm not eager to plant something which will require an intensive daily battle with aphids and spider mites.

    I've thought about bird feeders just to have a little more nature to watch from my bed (it's right off the balcony), but I suppose that would be another good reason to do so. I've also been thinking about getting some ladybugs. They probably wouldn't be hanging around my balcony much, but they might feed on that tree and lessen the bugs on my balcony.
     
  7. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Whose tree is it?

    If not yours, perhaps Strata council or landlord, or the city. Problems such as this tend to be chronic with certain trees or types of trees. Might look at this as a tree management issue rather than as a balcony management issue. You aren't the only balcony within range, I imagine, and any ground space will also be plagued.
     
  8. karmahappytoes

    karmahappytoes Active Member

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    Living in the City of Portland it's the property owners that these said trees are rooted in, which if they are the City's property and the lack of budget money for minor things as this what can one say. They don't have the money for pest control and most homeowners of larger trees don't care. We have huge pines to the west of us and to get them cleaned up well it's not happening. I regularly spray my whole yard due to neighbors' that don't have a clue and it's a shame. I keep hearing you aren't going to tell me what to do with my property and to get Gov to come out to even get your neighbors to mow is like a death sentence for your yard! Folks just don't get it.

    So sorry to hear about the health issues but attracting birds to this area might be the best way to solve this and you can enjoy them too.
     
  9. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Most Passiflora species are not hardy in Portland. Local outlets will have suitable candidates. However, if the exposure is dark another kind of plant will have to be chosen, here a sunny sheltered wall is the best location for passion vines (bluecrown passionflower is hardy enough here to also grow in the open, at least for awhile).

    Many southern hemisphere plants do not prove hardy in the north due to differences in humidity levels during Arctic fronts. Minimum temperatures experienced in the wild do not by themselves indicate cold climate suitability. Another factor is duration of cold, many plants adapted to warm climates are unable to tolerate extended freezes that penetrate the soil even when able to withstand brief sharp drops to quite low temperature levels.
     
  10. karmahappytoes

    karmahappytoes Active Member

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    P. Caerulea can be grown locally outside here and we have done so for 20 years in pots above and in the soil. I have friends up in Canada that also grow these. I believe without grabbing the passie book -15 c but that is without looking. These will grow 35 feet in one season if given the correct temps and conditions.
     
  11. lorax

    lorax Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    I stand corrected, Ron; I had forgotten how much more humid it is here.
     
  12. shadwell

    shadwell Member

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    I don't quite know who's tree it is -- if it's the City of Portland or the law firm that's next door to my apartment building. To be honest, I doubt either is really interested dealing with the problem.
     
  13. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    You can make them interested. The city is likely to be reasonably responsive to a simple request that the tree be either treated or replaced. A law firm might be too; they won't need liability issues (damage to deck, nuisance) spelled out for them.
     
  14. karmahappytoes

    karmahappytoes Active Member

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    I did some interesting research yesterday and since you have health issues you can take this to the public health there at City of Portland or make code enforcement/City's Arborist if they have one over there, aware of the problem. Health hazards need to be address, sometimes damages to adjacent properties will have to take a judge to solve the problems. Maybe the City or the Lawyer's Office need to be made aware of the problem? Also let them know since you have health issues you need to be made aware of any treatment so you can also protect your health during this period. Hope this helps.
     
  15. bullseye

    bullseye Active Member

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    Good advice KHT!
     

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