Again!?!

[ang709]

Over the summer spider mites got to eight of my orchids. I put those orchids in isolation and then sprayed all my orchids (infected or not) with a product containing safer's soap and pyrethrins. I repeated this on all orchids twice a week for a month. Finally, two weeks ago, since there seemed to be no sign of spider mites, I put all previously infected orchids back with the rest of the collection. Well, all except one cymbidium whose former place had been taken over in the mean time.

Yesterday I saw signs of spider mites again on that cymbidium (I'm so happy there hadn't been room for it with the rest) I checked all the other formerly infected ones, but the tissues didn't get red streaks-they still seem ok. Nevertheless, I again sprayed all the ones that had previously been affected.

My question is this. Should I again spray all orchid in my collection for the next month? Even with my husband's help, it took so long when I did it over the summer. But then again I don't want to just be lazy. Is this a case of better safe than sorry?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Angie, I would spray once ever seven or eight days. Spider mites life cycle could be causing you problems. You want to wipe them completely out. Also, if possible, use a miticide and get both the top and bottom of the plants foliage with the sprayings. Also, if possible again, raise the humidity level around all of your plants - especially the infected ones.

Cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

Unfortunately I have trouble with those too. I've found out that adding dishsoap to your bug stuff helps it kill them. It takes away their water proofing and allows the poison to work more effectively. Also; the phosphorous in the dish soap feeds the plants.
Good Luck
Connie

[ang709]

Feeding the plants while killing the bugs sounds good.
And 7 or 8 days is a relief. Even if I spray all of them, as long as I can do it on the weekend and don't have to fit it in in the middle of the week too, that it not nearly as daunting as the last time!

Thank you!

[Becky15349]

I had a problem with mites on my mini roses, and I followed this recipe for a spray and it worked well: a few drops of Neem Oil and a dash of dishsoap into a spray bottle and completely douse both sides of the leaves every 7 days, for 6 weeks. I'm happy to say that I'm mite free Mites have something like 6 life cycles, so by extending the spraying time out for 6 weeks, and doing it every 7 days, you allow the ones that were unaffected by the spray to mature and become vunerable to it...eventually, you get them all

[ang709]

Thank you, Becky. I will definitely extend my spraying time. My goal is to 'get them all' this time.