Insecticidal soap for just spider mites?

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Hi, I have been using safers insecticidal soap on my orchids in order to get rid of spider mites, however, I found a safers product (still insecticidal soap), however, I cannot figure out how it is different from the regular insecticidal soap (which it also claims kills spider mites)

Does anybody know?

Thanks, Cam

[Ray]

In my opinion, there is nothing advantageous about Safers over regular dishwashing soap. The both disrupt the protective coatings on the insects, making them vulnerable to desiccation and attack by other microbes.

[Ross]

I fully agree with Ray! In fact Safers products leave a white residue hard to remove and the residue stinks (in my opinion). Dish soap at least smells fine. As originally suggested (I think by Ray) increasing humidity or frequent sprayings of pure water probably do more to prevnt mites, than most home cures do to control them. Registered miticides are the only effective way to control mites (and those are fast disappearing, due to rampant misuse by home owners.) Kelthane was one of the greatest cures ever, but has been out of our reach unless you are a registered applicator.

[cirillonb]

there is a Safer Insecticidal soap that contains pyrithin (?sp) which is a natural product but definitely an insecticide. Not supposed to hurt orchids, however.
How does one mix up a batch of kitchen liquid soap like Dawn for use here?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by cirillonb

there is a Safer Insecticidal soap that contains pyrithin (?sp) which is a natural product but definitely an insecticide. Not supposed to hurt orchids, however.
How does one mix up a batch of kitchen liquid soap like Dawn for use here?

Pyrethrins don't do much for mites, unfortunately. They are good as a preventative, but not so good as a curative. For dish soap just a few drops in a quart (liter) of water is fine. The intent is to cut through certain insect "shields". It will certainly cut through the micro webs that mites make and might even wet the mites down. But I question the effectiveness as to killing the mites. Commonly a few drops of dish soap are added to spray mixes to break down webs and help with adhesion (sticking) of the chemical.

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Since I am also trying to control a fungus problem, I do not want to start spraying the plants with water too much, and I grow in the house, ro raising the humidity to a high level is out of the question.

So far the spray gets rid of almost all the mites, but just a few left on a plant multiple quickly, so I have to spray every week to keep their number low

[Ross]

I really think it's not the soap doing it, but the water carrier. Sorry. I think you'd be just as well off spraying liberally with either Thiomyl or Physan 20 at the same frequency. It would do more for the fungus and no less for the mites. Just my opinion.

[Brooke]

Ross if you are interested in a chemical for spider mites Floramite is very effective. Not only does it kill the mite but it also destroys the eggs. One thorough spraying and they are eliminated.

Rather expensive but very effective.

Brooke