Mites - beginner in urgent need of advice

[bethmarie]

I found evidence on a few more plants of possible mite damage. I want to do something now to keep them from spreading to more plants and doing more damage. I did some reading on the board and elsewhere about mites and came back with a question or two. I'm going to try sucrashield, but it'll be days or a week before I have that. In the meantime, can I do what someone else suggested and submerge my plants in clean water for an hour without damaging or drowning the plants? I'm pretty concerned about the rest of my plants becoming infested.

[bethmarie]

Posting some pics of my Zga. Charisma which may have mites. If you see something different, let me know. And please weigh in on the best immediate action to take to clear up my Zga and protect my other orchids.

[zxyqu]

Submerging the plants is an option. Before I submerge the plants though, I'd take some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), and spray the plants down till they are dripping. Then scrub the leaves with a qtip (focus on the underside of the leaves). This will immediately kill any bugs on the leaves and top of the media. Once dry the following day or so, submerge the plants for a brief period (make sure they need watering before doing this). Then repeat the alcohol 1.5-2 weeks later to catch any that you missed or that hatched in the interim. This should tide you over until the sucrashield arrives.

[bethmarie]

Jarad- thank you! Could you take a look at the pics i just posted and tell me if that looks like mite damage to you?

[tucker85]

In his book 'Florida Orchid Growing' by Martin Motes, he recommends using a horticultural oil followed 7-10 days later by insecticidal soap. The products I use are Organocide (oil) and Safer Insect Killing Soap. I often use only the soap. No matter what you use you need to spray again a week later to kill newly hatched mites. The beauty of soap or oil is that it's not very toxic to humans. When spraying under all the leaves of the phal it's impossible to keep from getting it on you hands so I prefer something non-toxic.

[bethmarie]

Thanks Tucker. Did you happen to look at the pics I posted? Does that look like mite damage to you?

[tucker85]

Originally Posted by bethmarie

Thanks Tucker. Did you happen to look at the pics I posted? Does that look like mite damage to you?

I can't really tell. The way to check for mites is to take a moist, white paper towel and run it over the underside of the leaf. If you see tiny red dots, those are mites.

I use Safer Soap on all my orchids (especially underneath the leaves) twice a year to prevent mites from getting started.

[Paddle_grl]

I wouldn't treat it until you actually find mites on the plant. Like someone else said, use a white paper towel. We don't have red mites here in MI, we have brown ones. They look like pepper on a white paper towel. One things with mites...they HATE moisture. You can just hose your leaves down and rinse off most of the mites. Followed by a soap. Honestly, I think mites are pretty easy to get rid of on Orchids.

[Bud]

mite infestation has a whitish weblike stuff under the leaf(or the underside of the leaf seems to be perspiring)....your picture looks like its a fungi infestation (dark center with a yellow ring around it) or some water mark damage....
just for your peace of mind:

a cheap home remedy

12 drops dish soap
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract=the one found on the supermarket aisle with the vanilla and almond extract for baking
2 cups tepid water

mix this in a spray bottle and drench the whole plant
make some more and soak the pot for 5 min to kill the insect eggs

repeat after a week....two weeks rest then repeat again for 2 weeks interval

*this is not harmful to humans or pets = it also serves as a watering method

[bethmarie]

Originally Posted by Bud

your picture looks like its a fungi infestation (dark center with a yellow ring around it) or some water mark damage....

I took my Zygos to an expert, and he seconded your assessment : fungus. He recommended more air movement, specifically an oscillating fan 24/7. Won't get rid of the current spotting, but will prevent more. On the upside, no danger posed to my other orchids, which was a relief.


Nice call, Bud.

Thanks to everyone for the help!