Dry ice method..

[Neverend]

I've read about the dry ice method marty used to eliminate pests in his vivarium, and am interested to do it (though I don't have one). A great desire to eradicate the swarm of spider mites I have infesting my orchids makes me try out unusual (not to mention cool) methods. I'll be using a tank or pail as the CO2 'chamber'.

This is why I need to know, what is the minimum time I keep my orchid in the carbon dioxide 'chamber' in this case? The shorter the better, so I can treat all my plants quickly.

[Tindomul]

I would not take them out too quickly. Mites and other small creatures have a way of keeping out the CO2 and keeping in the O2. So you have to wait till they run out of their own O2 before they start drowning. Good luck. I am probably going to do this very soon. I finally found a seller of Dry ice, and this is my next to last weapon in Mealybug war of '07 (still raging).

[Neverend]

Hm, alright, I think I'll keep them for 2 hours... should be enough to kill them I guess...