Rose guru Ludwig Taschner gives advice about pesky little mites

Jessie Smith of Germiston writes Every year my ‘Nautica’ rose flowers beautifully in October but after that the buds become small and deformed and the new growth is often wrinkled. How can I solve this without using poison?  

Ludwig replies This is caused by thrips – the larvae that infest the blooms and leaves are almost indetectable and very hard to eradicate. For gardeners who don’t want to use poisons, we recommend a natural solution called Swirski-Mite. Each 500ml bottle contains 50 000 predatory mites mixed with bran and can be used preventatively or when pests are active. Sensitivity or allergic reactions are possible, so gloves or protective clothing and a mask should be worn when dispensing the mites. Swirski-Mite can be ordered directly from Ludwig’s Roses