Question
I purchased a cat palm about 5 foot tall after a week or so I had to repot if, as the original container was to small.  Now a month has gone by and I notice the dusty stuff on many of the leaves.  How do I treat for dust mites.  Does the yellowwing mean to much LIGHT??  Thanks

Jerry

Answer
Jerry,

Cat palms are difficult indoors because they need to be kept constantly moist but not left sittning in water so their roots will rot. The potting soil should have a lot of peat moss to hold moisture and feel a bit spongy. It should be watered whenever the surface of the soil feels dry but the drain tray should not be left with water in it for more than an hour oar two. Suction it out with a turkey baster. It also needs high humidity. The spider mites have attacked becaues the air is too dry and the plant is stressed. If you have a hand held shower start with giving the plant a shower. Take it to the shower and spray the plant well making sure you get all the leaves and leaf crotches. Then let it dry. That will get the biggest share of the spiider mites. After that get a sprayer and mix water and rubbing alcohol half and half and spray the plant daily both to humidify the plant and the alcohol will kill any spider mites that are left. After a few weeks if you see no signs of spider mites you can leave out the alcohol but as long as the furnace or the air conditioner is on I reccommend that you spray this plant once or twice a day with water to humidify the air arooud it. Your other option would be to set a humidifier near it. As long as the sun is not actually shining on it it is not getting too much light. It can handle bright light, just no sun. Yellow leaves mean dry air, dry soil. Good luck.

Darlene