I have been growing Ipomoea for awhile now and several of the plants obtained spider mites of species Tetranychus urticae.
Previously these had bothered some species a little but had done very poorly on Ipomoea tricolor in comparison. However over time they adapted to it and then after this they spread to other plants like Ipomoea nervosa and Ipomoea aquatica.
In one of my areas where I grow the plants I just left the mites alone, they became an infestation and then after awhile another small bug showed up and started eating them and they are hard to find now. However in my other area there were no such bugs and the mites were prolific. I still ignored them however as that they didn't interfere with flowering and I don't trade living plants with a few exceptions like some cacti.
This area was lit however with a 315 watt ceramic metal halide light, it is a good light for growing plants indoors, but my bulb burned out and I didn't have a replacement. It took 4-5 days to get a new bulb and get it installed. During this time the plants were in darkness.
When the light finally came back on however, I noticed something I did not expect.
Nearly all of the mites on the plants that sat in the darkness had died.
It was a spider mite apocalypse and their world ended.
I have my suspicions why this happened, but I'll keep that to myself for now.
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Trade Reviews:
1: luvsgrtdanes = Awesome.
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As of last night I view the areole as a modified adaxial surface, rather than a modified stipule.
I've written about this privately but am making place holding note here for future reference.
This is a radically different perspective than the present consensus but I can support it strongly.
Those interested in learning more can message me.
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It is winter morning now, and the light has yet to return.
I'm waiting in the darkness before dawn, paintbrush nearby, for the flowers to open.
Underneath the snow outside other plants are waiting for different light to return, but here inside where it is warm, the glow of artificial light coaxes the flowers to appear indoors, that seem so reluctant to bloom sometimes outdoors.
I am writing of course, about Morning Glories, in the genus Ipomoea.
I have some growing in and around an aquarium and downstairs I have some in pots under a HID light.
I keep waking up early to see them, hoping to get a smell of Ipomoea fistulosa's faint and delicious cotton candy like floral odor, or to be able to transfer pollen from one species to another to see if they will breed. Sometimes I let self fertile forms pollinate themselves and then less than an hour later I cut the style to stop the pollen tubes from reaching the ovary, but the key has already been unlocked and I will take a dab of stick floral nectar from extra-floral nectaries so common in this genus, put it right on the cut end of the style and add the pollen I want to be the parent.
Even here under the cover of the winter darkness, every flower is an adventure and a magical event.
