What to use for spider mites on Cycnoches

[smweaver]

My Catasetums and Cycnoches are just starting to come out of their winter dormancy. Late last summer I got to experience spider mites for the first time. Since it was toward the end of the growing season I didn't panic too much, and just contented myself with spraying the plants with Safer's Insecticidal Soap. I'm not sure whether it had any effect on the mites, however (other than maybe giving them a bath). This year I'd like to catch the problem early. Does anyone have any advice about what I can use either preventatively before the mites arrive or to counteract them once they're here? I grow outdoors in the summer, where it's hot and very humid. Although the mites didn't seem to do too much damage (since all of the plants bloomed well over the winter), I'd really like to avoid the problem this year, or have something onhand to knock the infestation down fast once it's detected. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[littlefrog]

Kethane works, but it is hard to find as it isn't being sold in the US anymore, I believe. Garden centers sometimes have old bottles on the shelf. Avid is another good miticide.

Whatever you do, don't use alcohol on the catasetums. When I tried that I melted several (not all, but I wasn't going to try it again). Or imidocloprid (bayer spray) - that is spider-mite viagra.

If you catch it early, beneficial insects (spider mite predator mites) are a good thing. Not all that expensive compared to Avid and some of the newer miticides.

[smweaver]

Thank you! I'll look for both Avid and Kelthane--and avoid the ones you mentioned that aren't so great. I bought some sort of miticide made by Bonide last year from the local garden center. It actually smelled nice when I sprayed it on the plants--like cloves. Unfortunately, every Japanese Beetle in the neighborhood also liked the smell. I watched in horror as they started coming in and landing on the orchids (which had been completely ignored by them until I sprayed the Bonide). I immediately grabbed the garden hose and started spraying everything in order to wash the Bonide off. After that experience I decided to stick to the Safer's. Ineffective it may have been, but at least it didn't attract Japanese Beetles looking for a salad bar. Thanks again for your feedback.

Steve

[Frdemetr]

Don't disdain any mite attack! It's a plague, realy! They can destroy catasetinae in few weeks, at least in brazilian climate! In my conditions, low atmosfeic humidity is the great problem. Use chemichal miticides agressively, no merci!
Frederico

[Ironwood]

I have used Neem oil on my orchids to eliminate some of these common pests.

[Gin]

Keltane is my weapon . It was off the market but might be back . Check out livestock feed stores that have garden supplies . Safers will work but has to be used every 3 days , washing the leaves also helps plus humidity . Take no prisioners ! Gin

[Lagoon]

Ken, I like neem alot too, But it can really damage the plants when the weather is hot & humid.

Regards
Gloria

[dave b]

What symptoms did your plants exhibit once you realized it was spider mites? Do you happen to have any pics of the infected leaves?

[smweaver]

I don't have any pictures of the leaves, but on a couple of the plants the leaves had minute yellow speckling on them; the tips also started to brown and die back. Additionally, the effected leaves seemed to stop growing (didn't expand or fill out like their neighbors' leaves). One species in particular, Cycnoches chlorichilon, appeared to be the favorite of the mites. Strangely enough, a couple of Cycnoches hybrids that sat on either side of the chlorichilon had negligible damage. All plants sit on the same galvanized steel bench between mid April and late September, receive the same amount of light, water, humidity, etc. And while most plants didn't show any signs of the mites, the couple that did (most notably the chlorichilon) REALLY did. I got a couple more chlorichilons over the winter. So it will be interesting to see whether or not they also turn into mite magnets. Right now growth has just started, and even though the plants are indoors, I've purchased a couple of ten and twenty power loupes (the same ones field geologists use) and have been diligently inspecting every plant for the mites. So far, so good--but with spring approaching, the opportunities for wildlife showing up increase enormously. I'm going to look for Kelthane, and if all else fails, dip into my wallet and pay for the expensive Avid. I'd rather gripe about the investment in miticide than lament the preventable loss of plants.

[Faerygirl]

Kelthane is still on the market (at least here in Florida) its under a brand called "Hi Yield". I get it at the Feed and Seed store. Its not cheap, about $17 for a small 10 oz or so bottle, but its concentrated...1tsp/gal is the mix ratio so it lasts a while