How Can I Control Fuchsia Gall Mites?

Do you want to prevent fuchsia gall mites?

Do you sanitize your tools before and after working with the plants?

Do you quarantine new fuchsias for 2 weeks before exposing them to others?

Do you want to control fuchsia gall mites by pruning infested growth?

Is the gall mites damage and infestation severe?

Do you want to control fuchsia gall mites using soaps and chemicals?

Do you want to use insecticidal soap for gall mites control?

Do you have a cold-hardy fuchsia?

Clean your shears, gloves, and any other tools you’re using to prune or cut the fuchsia plants using soap and water or rubbing alcohol. This helps prevent the spread of infection from one plant to another as you’re working.

Avoid taking cuttings of fuchsias from the wild or public areas. If offered a cutting check it and make sure that other plants are disease-free. Only buy from mail-order sources you can trust.

A gall mite’s life cycle lasts roughly 2-4 weeks. Once you get a brand new fuchsia plant, avoid putting it next to your others for at least 2 weeks so that it’s less likely to become infected by gall mites.

If the infestation and damage of the gall mites is severe then the best course of action is to remove the infected plant entirely. Use a shovel to dig the entire plant out of the soil or remove the plant from its pot. Gall mites can spread very easily, so it’s important to put the pruned parts directly into a bag. Seal the bag tightly and throw it away in the trash to be sure it doesn’t infest anything else. Some people prefer to burn their infected fuchsia plants instead of throwing them in the trash to be sure they’re properly destroyed.

Once you find an area of your fuchsia plant that’s infected, cut it off with plenty of room to spare. Make your cut 2 nodes below the damaged part or at least 2 in below the gall mite infection. Use clean gloves and shears to remove the infected area. Gall mites can spread very easily, so it’s important to put the pruned parts directly into a bag. Seal the bag tightly and throw it away in the trash to be sure it doesn’t infest anything else. Some people prefer to burn their infected fuchsia plants instead of throwing them in the trash to be sure they’re properly destroyed.

Insecticidal soap can be found at your local garden or home improvement store and helps protect the plants from gall mites. Apply the spray during the plant’s dormant season before the buds sprout to give it the best protection. Follow the instructions on the insecticidal soap spray to be sure it works its best. Instead of just covering the flowers and stems with your insecticidal spray, apply it up under the leaves and around all of the stems, even if they’re tiny or hidden away. Some sprays will tell you to apply it every 4 days or so to the fuchsia plants while others recommend spraying it every 7-10 days.

Regular chemical pesticides don’t usually affect gall mites, and if they do, it’s very minimal. Many chemical insecticides or pesticides can harm organisms that feed off of the flowers, like hummingbirds, so it's better not to use them.

Put your fuchsias outside in the cold for a few days to kill off the mites. A good freeze will help get rid of gall mites. If you have a hardy fuchsia plant that can withstand chillier temperatures, keep it outside during the winter for 2-3 days so the weather can help fight off any unwanted infections. Temperatures between 16 °F and 24 °F can help kill off gall mites. Bring your fuchsias back into warmer temperatures after a few days if possible.

There are some types of fuchsias that have become immune to gall mites, like Brazilian fuchsias, which makes them somewhat easier to care for properly. While these may be difficult to find depending on your area, reach out to your local nursery or gardening store to see if they have any varieties that won’t be as affected by gall mites.