Red Spider Mites Prevention
 

I'm very fortunate that so far, I've only dealt with fungus knats in my orchids which are a very easy fix. However, outside I've been seeing a couple of spider mites. No colonies or anything major, just the odd one.

I'm now a little concerned though because out of all the pests to deal with, I really don't want to deal with them. I'm not sure of spraying my entire front and back garden with neem oil is either cost effective or will even work.

I wanted to put my cymbidium outside this summer however I'm too worried that something will crawl in and I'll regret it.

So is there any ways to eradicate my entire property of even having a chance of hosting red spider mites?

They're outside in the environment everywhere, so you will never be able to get rid of them. They come into your home on your clothing. You already have some among your plants, growing on the ones that are less susceptible.

If you use poisons on your collection, you will kill a lot of them, but they will always come back.

You can prevent attacks by wetting every surface of every plant once a week with a water spray. You can also prevent attacks by keeping your growing area above 80% relative humidity. However, this isn't likely nor reasonable in a home, and it will predispose to fungal diseases.

I use the water spray method.

Red spider love hot dry conditions so keep a moist buoyant atmosphere around your plants.

trust me hat you saw outside was not a red spider mite.

We get tiny little red spiders that pop up in summer, they are not the same, I don't know what they are called but I am 99% sure that is what you saw.

Spider mites are so small you can barely see them.

The red spider I am thinking of is about a mm in size and so just big enough to see legs, is that what you saw? They like to sunbathe on rocks.

Spider mites are much smaller and most of the time the only way to see them is to wipe a tissue across the orchid leaf. If the tissue turns orange you just wiped up some spider mites.

So do not worry about these red spiders outdoors. Spider mites would have serious trouble surviving outdoors in the uk, they are a greenhouse pest.

Keep in mind that there pest spider mites and predatory spider mites. If you see them 'here and there' they could be the predatory sort as they are usually solitary.

The 2 spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is also common outdoors (including the UK in the warmer months). These are usually just large enough to see with the naked eye. Many are a pale translucent yellowish color with 2 spots, others are more red in color.

This is how big spider mites are.

Now you'd have to be pretty sharp eyed to spot them outside and like said it is very unlikely to bring them in from outside, what is far more likely is when visiting other orchids they might jump on to your clothes and hitch a ride.

This Phal was next to an infected plant for 3 days max but I think that is how this one got them.

I could make out their legs, maybe they were about 1mm, and a couple were 2mm and they looked super fat, like they were about to lay eggs.

yeah those were a type of spider, nothing to worry about.

Teeny tiny red mites... probably clover mites or red spider mites. They love to hang out on stones, concrete, etc., in the heat.

The outdoors is filled with bugs. There's no way to be "bug free" outside. This is the first time since 2005 I haven't moved orchids outside for the summer. It's a real trade-off whether to do so or not. Speaking specifically of Cymbs, I have to supplement light year round indoors, even though their inside space is all windows from ceiling down to 2' above the floor. The jury is still out on whether the tradeoff is worth it, since it's the first year in forever since I didn't move them. I will say I'm enjoying not having bugs targeting leaves that stick around forever (psychopsis is a good example)

If outside I am guaranteed to have chewed leaves and bug issues...period. I'm usually more concerned with grasshoppers here than anything else. They do the most damage very quickly. The Japanese beetles, squash and cucumber beetles, etc., have better things to eat than most orchids.

If you can't bear the thought of having some imperfect leaves or occasional hitchhikers on your Cymb, leave it inside. Unless it needs the cold snap to bloom. Then, with only one Cymb, use due diligence and keep at eye on it. I have two outside, and try to check them daily and give a quick hose to them.

@waterwitchin I don't mind a few munched leaves, and it's just a NoID cymb. It's also in semi hydro and the UK is going through some hot weather. Maybe I'll move it outside for a bit, I have them under some strong grow lights and I think it's been getting enough light. I have roses that distract the aphids away and some strong pesticide so if worst comes to worst, I'll just quarantine it and bring it back in.