Spider Mites on Other Plants
 

Evening, guys! I currently live in a small apartment so all of my plants are huddled on a small table next to a south facing window. This evening while I was looking them over, I found what I believe to be the beginnings of spider mites on my begonias. I know that I can treat this by wiping/spraying the leaves with water and dish soap, but I will have to do it to all the plants.

I am fairly new to orchids so my questions are: 1) can the mites infect the orchids (though I have no reason to think they wouldn't) and 2) is it safe to put a diluted soap/water combo on orchid leaves to pre-treat or catch what might be there?

And are there any other avenues (pesticide or natural anti-bug stuff) you might take this issue?

Thanks!

Orchids can get spider mites--and they can get around pretty quickly. I have successfully used SaferSoap on my orchids, as a matter of fact they seem to love it--so I can't imagine why a soap/water combo wouldn't work. Rubbing alcohol is also OK for orchids. There is a lot of free info on First Ray's site: First Rays' Home Remedies

Awesome, thank you so much! I have dunked the leaves of my begonias and other plants in soapy water in the past as per my Horticulture class but we never learned about orchids and I wasn't willing to flip them upside down. XD I will attack them full force tomorrow..Thanks again!

I had an impression that spider mites tend to attack thin leaf plants? Was I wrong?

What do you mean by your orchids love the soapy water? ;)

Thanks for the helpful advice!

I'm not sure about the type of leaves spider mites prefer, but I have seen a rubber plant with a bad case of spider mites, and they have pretty thick leaves. My orchids go outside for the summer, any time anything looks suspicious and before they come in for the winter I spray them with SaferSoap. It is very mild and numerous applications are required for a bug problem. Mostly my problems have been with aphids. I say they love the spray because after I spray the leaves, they just look healthier and happier, maybe more vibrant color--hard to describe otherwise. Even my husband thinks so. Some people feel that SaferSoap is expensive and a waste of money--but I use it because I just feel my orchids like it. Can't say why though. I had a bad case of leaf mites on my ludicia several years ago, and it worked well for that too.

I see your point, Judi.
Thanks!

WO

In my experience spider mites, if that is what they are, tend to attack other plants before orchids. At least my orchids, because I grow them with very high humidty in an enclosed enviroment. The humidty itself deters spider mites. Spider mites are known to affect thin leaved orchids like catasetums and such. Especially because they are usually kept dry for part of the season. Depending on the size of the infection they are a few different approaches you can use to kill them. Whatever you do, repeat it about 5 to 7 days later, because they have very short life cycles. They are most apparant on the undersides of the leaves on the the newest growths. Many people need a magnifying glass to see them with certainty.
Chad

It is not a severe case..yet. I was inspecting my begonias (my cats broke a piece off of a larger plant and I rooted and recently re-potted it so I'm being paranoid) and I found some tiny yellow dots on the underside of like three of the leaves. No webs yet...but I plan on taking care of it and being proactive in the prevention before they get ginormous in population and spread to all of my other plants.

I have read that having plants together helps with humidity as they respire, but I was still thinking of doing a little humidity tray for my orchids for extra help..would that help with bugs, as professor plant mentioned?

A humidity tray will do little for humidity or mites.

Read THIS.

Bunching your plants together aids in the transfer of mites to all of your plants.

Concerning the mites - and yes, I do carry the stuff - I am very pleased with SucraShield as an all-around insecticide/miticide for home use.

Thanks! I'll look into it! In the mean time, do you think the soap would at least start off until the SucraShield arrives? I don't want it to get worse, lol. And I'm working on getting a baker's rack to move my plants around a little better instead of having them bunched up on a small table.