I'm new around here (and brand spankin' new to roses too!) so I hope this isn't too much of a newbie post :P...

I was googling about companion plants for spider mites as my Pink Pet seems to be under attack from the pesky things. Apparently "Mary Jane" suffers a lot from spider mites because the first three search results were from websites alllll about it lol.

Any way, I found this list of companion plants for repelling spider mites and other pests (I don't know half of these bugs myself lol, but maybe someone will find this info useful!):

* garlic - aphids, cowpea curculio, flea beetles, japanese beetles, mexican been leaf beetles, root maggots, spider mites and squash vine borers
* onion - bean leaf beetle, cabbage loopers, carrot flies, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, mexican bean leaf beetles, mice, rabbits, spider mites and squash vine borers
* dill - aphids, cabbage moths and spider mites
* fennel - aphids, slugs, snails and spider mites
* coriander/cilantro - aphids, colorado potato beetles and spider mites
* chives - aphids, japanese beetles and spider mites
* cloves - cowpea curculio, spider mites and squash vine borers

Sooooo.....have any of you had success with planting any of these said plants near your roses? Pink Pet is currently in a pot in my screen enclosure. I figure if this does work I could just put chives or something in a pot next to her? Any feedback is welcomed! Thanks in advance!

When it comes to companion planting, some gardeners swear by such groupings while others don't.

Overall, the best strategy for all plants, whether in the ground or containers, is to put the right plant in the right place, then provide the right follow-up care.

Let's take that apart:
- The right plant: Choose kinds known to be successful in your region.
- The right place: Which site will be best -- sun, shade, or half and half?
- The right follow-up:
- - - 1. Maintain the moisture content of the entire root zone as needed by that particular plant (wet, moist or on the dry side; in the latter instance, make certain the plant has first had a chance to develop a good root system)
- - - 2. Fertilize if needed: Seasonal vegetables and flowers generally need extra fertilizer to provide the optimum yields we expect; container-grown plants will need smaller but more frequent doses because the fertilizer literally washes out ; ornamental trees and shrubs in the ground seldom need fertilizer.
- - - 3. Protect from excess sunlight and/or heat as needed, particularly when they are first planted.
- - -4. Visit your plants every several days or so to make certain they're doing well; when complications set in, find out what it is and deal with it promptly and in an appropriate manner.

Have fun w/ your plants.

to get rid of the spider mites, the MOST effective thing i have ever found is simple castile soap and olive oil in a sprayer bottle.