spider mites?

[Jmoney]

Hi all,

I suspect I might have some spider mites on a couple cyms and a brassia--what do people out there use? (and are there any formulations that are relatively nontoxic to mammals--i.e. ok for home spraying?)

thanks,

Jason

[Piper]

Hi Jason,

I luckily haven't experienced spider mites, but I wanted to take my brand new AOS Orchid Pest Guide out for a spin!

If you wanted a biological control, the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis chows on spider mites, and then itself dies off from starvation after the spider mites are history. Of course trading one form of vermin for another in your apartment may not excite you...

The other non-greenhouse suggestions listed are:

Avid 0.15 EC (emulsifiable concentrates) - see lable directions;
Insecticidal soap - see label directions;
Mavrik Aquaflow - 5 fl. oz.

Hope this helps!

Julie

[ABro]

Neem oil could also be another option. It works pretty well. The only down side is that it smells like onions!

[Piper]

I tend to lump Neem into the insecticidal soap category.

Julie

[jtlqh]

I had spider mite this winter, insecticidal soap is no use for me, even those listed for mite, they are weak on them. They had got to every one of my collection. I finally ordered a bottle of need oil, and sprayed a few times (once every 4 or 7 days), they are gone for now. I don't know if I get rid of them completely or not, since I had mite the last winter also. If they are still here, I think they will come back when the heating is turned on and humidity drops.

Qing

[Gin]

Safers if it is used every 3 days to get any newly hatched .
My daughter had them on her plants it got rid of them plus washing the leaves off , if you use Neem be sure to keep plants out of the sun . Keltane is the weapon of choice for outside spraying , it smells, plants can be brought back in after a couple of days .. industrial strength stuff . Gin

[orchid-man]

If you have spider mite ,then your humdity is toooooooo low.Raise the humidity and mist the plants on a daily or twice daily bases and in a few days the plants will really respond and the mites will be gone.

[Jmoney]

thanks guys, I think I'll use up the last few drops of neem I have lying around and see if weekly spraying doesn't do the trick. if that doesn't work I think I"m gonna bite the bullet and kelthane the @$#^^@'s.

my humidity is limited by the windowsill and can never be changed, unfortunately. funny thing is that it's summer and the humidity will never be this high (50% average) for the rest of the year.

[Mark V]

These spots started on a cymb. about two weeks ago. I sprayed on a 1 to 4 dish soap to water till the plant was soaked. The spots got worse. I have tried Orthanex twice in two weeks and the spots get worse. Now there is leaf yellowing.

P.S. The plants are outside and get misted at least twice a day.

[Gin]

Hi Mark , If it is spider mites Orthonex won't get them, might slow them down but won't get rid of them . Safers will but has to be used every 3 days . Neem is good but plant has to be shaded to avoid burn ..
Keltane is the weapon of choice .
If it is a fungus of some type , I can't tell on the picture, Daconil from the big box store works well .
Wipe the leaf top and under with a wet tissue if it has orangie streaks ,mites for sure . Hope this helps a little . Gin