AAARRRRGH!!! I have spider mites

[imgliniel]

ok, so it started with a miniature rose I have in my living room, I saw mites on it, and I have been trying treatments (alcohol with dish soap, systemic insecticide, but having trouble iradicating). Now today I realize they are in several phal pots and a dendrobium in the same room! And the orchids are like, 20 to 30 feet from the rose! I should have taken the damn thing outside or thrown it away when I saw them.


*sigh* anyone know any good cures or good ways to kill the little buggers? I have a perethrin and canola oil miticide that I just got for the rose, is it safe for the orchids too? It says safe for all houseplants. Anyone had to deal with these before?

I was already having some mold problems with these particular phals and now this.

[Izzie]

Eugh. I hate those things- and they ALWAYS get into our mini roses whether they're inside or out.
They thrive in dry conditions.

Anything that is safe for roses should be safe for orchids, from what I've heard.
The one time I've gotten them on one of my orchids, I rinsed the plant off really well, soaked the media in soapy water, and then sprayed with a miticide. Seemed to work.

[smweaver]

The horticultural oil and/or permethrin should be okay on the phalaenopsis and dendrobiums. The only plants I've had that've reacted unfavorably to being squirted with the oil are cycnoches species. I think it killed the mites, but the leaves didn't look all that pretty afterwards. You could also try to put the plants outdoors or increase the humidity near the plants; mites, from what I've read, aren't overly fond of humidity. Good luck!

[imgliniel]

Izzy, do you think soaking in soapy water would help with minor mold problems? I can't imagine it would make them worse can you? And soaking in soapy water does not hurt the roots? Would you rinse through the media afterwards?

I am so frustrated believe me I want to rip out my hair right now, lol.

[Izzie]

I know the feeling.
Soapy water might help with minor mold, I'm sure. If it doesn't work, try pouring brown listering through the media, and rinsing with clean water after a couple minutes.

Soapy water won't hurt the roots- just use a mild dish or hand soap.
You don't have to soak for long, just a minute or so, to make sure it covers all the media. You could even make a big batch of it and just flush the pot really thoroughly.
I don't rinse mine after using the soap, it's really not necessary unless it's really strong.
I do a tablespoon to a quart, but the concentration isn't critical. You get lots of different ratios online.
I had success with plain old clear antibacterial hand soap from the grocery store.

[Brotherly Monkey]

I always used floramite if the infestation was bad. And if you don't want to shell out the 300+ dollars for a bottle, which I doubt you would even use up in the next 20 years, you can buy it by thew 1/2 and full ounce on ebay (but at about double the price).

PS I just recently purchased a new bottle, and though i don't want to sell any, i would be willing to make a possible trade for some

[johnblagg]

I use the no pest strip things they sell for use in dairy barns ....place the chids in a small closet with the pest strip for a day or so closed up they kill spide mites very effectivly I use them in the house among mt plants in winter every winter and never ....I mean never have a mite problem and in fact have used them to eradicate a major mite problem for a friend in has office on the plants there ...total control in just a few days

[imgliniel]

johnblagg, do you know what those strips are called?

And Bortherly Monkey, thanks for the offer, I am going to try a few other things first, but if I can't get rid of them I will let you know.

[johnblagg]

the last kind I bought were Hot Shot no pest strips ...the ones I like the best I get at a feed store and I cant remember the brand but are for use in dairy barns...the Hot Shot brand do very well also and I get those at home depo