gack! Mites!

[calypsoB]

So for a bit now I have noticed my catt struggling. I repotted and noticed some root rot. I cleaned it up and repotted. It was doing alright, but this week the leaves are even more shrivelled (the new but is still firm and good coloured). So I took them out to have a better look at the roots and they were all brown but holy smokes my finger was almost over taken by white spider looking things! Crap. So I checked the other phal beside it and it was infested as well! So what do I use to get rid of them without totally killing off the plants??? I swear I am cursed when it comes to orchids!

[glengary54]

CalypsoB - I would need to see a photo of the critters you are talking about.

[calypsoB]

I'll give it a try but to be honest they might be too small for my camera to pick up. Oh and there are no webs...
Stayed tuned for photos..I have to charge my battery

[calypsoB]

[calypsoB]

It looks lighter from my eyes though...and the drip mark isn't bugs on the leaf my hands were muddy when I toughed it one day..

[glengary54]

First Rays website has the following all purpose, homemade insecticide. It couldn't hurt to use it as a drench just pour it on the plant as if you were watering the plant, catch the runoff in a bucket and do it again making sure that you really wet the medium.

Mix 1 teaspoon (5 ml) each cooking oil and liquid dishwashing soap or detergent in a quart (liter) of water. Concentrations are not critical - some recommend a tablespoon (15 ml) of oil be used. Shake well, and spray the plant, being sure to thoroughly wet all surfaces. Repeat every 3 days for about 2 weeks. (The soap breaks down the waterproof, waxy coating on the insects' shells, and the oil will smother them.)

[calypsoB]

Should I put any alcohol into it? Also should I repot in new bark?

[Eyebabe]

Imo the best thing for spider mites is Neem Oil plus raising your humidity.

Furthermore, you need fresh media for the plant but I would treat it daily for a few days before repotting.

Mites like it DRY! So wet her up and keep humidity higher. The Neem Oil will suffocate the little buggers who decide to stay.

(...and your Neem Oil is mixed with dish soap and water per the instructions on the bottle before spraying.)

Caution: Do not spray Neem Oil or any oil on your plant when it is in the sun...it will burn the plant. So keep the plant in good shade when you spray.

[glengary54]

Eyebabe - From what he described and the fact that he was actually able to photograph the bug whatever it is, I doubt whole heartedly that it is spider mites. Not that neem oil won't work on other things.

[calypsoB]

That photo is on my cameras full zoom high pixels and zoomed in on a photo editor. It is about .25mm in actual size. I guess I should have mentioned that...They are not easily visible to the naked eye. But I am still not 100% sure what they are. I did give them the soapy oil water bath and on the catt I removed it from the bark all together since it is doing poorly. I bought some new bark that I will put it in once I am more sure that those critters aren't still hanging out....That should be ok right?