Spider

[cv41gearwife]

Hello all,

While watering I found a small black spider in a phal that I just received. He came crawling up a root out of the media. I think he is too big to be a mite(around the size of the exposed part of a ball point pen). So what could he be and more importantly how do I get rid of him? Can I use the same spray i do for my miniture roses? Any help would be wonderful.

[Ross]

Spiders are difficult to kill, and I question why you would want to. They are not known to bother vegetation (roots or otherwise) but do feed on potentially harmful mites (guess you could think of these as "spider" mites, flies, bugs and other things of the night. Just curious.

[Chubidubi]

My orchids are all outside 24/7 and they have tons of spiders all around them. They always pick up anything that gets close to them. If it's not poisonous just let it be. She'll be of great help in the future.

[ronaldhanko]

A spider mite would be too small to see. Even with a magnifying glass they are hard to see.

[utah]

I actually gather up spiders from inside the house (as long as they aren't black widows - they get smashed) and transplant them into the greenhouse.

There always seems to be small flying critters out there (don't blame them) and the spiders are great a killing them off. "Daddy long legs" do a great job but I like finding the ones that spin webs too to catch the critters flying over the humidity trays. :-)

Besides, they are really pretty.

[betoguerrero]

I noticed that bin my orchids too.... very little jumping spider... but they eats the insects and alll is OK.... is like a mini Ecosystem... i don't kill them .... They help me with the insects...

[Swamper]

all that and...welcome to the OB