HELP! Spider mites Neem oil vs mineral oil vs?

[Leafmite]

I have other plants which attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and such to the plant collection and they will sometimes check out the orchids or just land on them. I usually just set ladybugs loose after putting the plants outside...sometimes lacewings. Indoors, if I do not have the luck to have a cleaning crew of ladybugs, I use a safe insecticidal soap, Neem Oil, Diatomaceous Earth, and washing the plants well with soap and water as my methods to combat pests.

[estación seca]

You can't get rid oc spider mites. They're in the landscape outside. rbarata said above you need always en garde.

[WaterWitchin]

I keep rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and just spray the plant down. Repeat weekly for a few weeks. Then keep an eye out and respray as needed when you see the little buggers again.

[Dr. Dave 4u]

Hi WaterWitchin,
Do you find just the alcohol sufficient?
Do you dilute it at all or full strength
And, does full strength alcohol hurt or dry out some of the thinner more sensitive orchid leaves?
Thanks

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dave 4u

Hi WaterWitchin,
Do you find just the alcohol sufficient?
Do you dilute it at all or full strength
And, does full strength alcohol hurt or dry out some of the thinner more sensitive orchid leaves?
Thanks

I use rubbing alcohol like you get from the store. I think it's around 70%, but you need to look at the bottle. I don't dilute it at all.

I thought we were discussing Catts, via your original query. Will it hurt thinner leaves? Hasn't with mine, but rarely have that issue with thinner leaved plants. I've used on Oncidium with no bad results. That's me.

[thefish1337]

before you begin any treatment hit them with a strong blast of water to rinse most of them off. it makes control elimination a lot easier if you hit the population first and then follow up with soap, oil, neem.

[estación seca]

The alcohol needs to be 70% or higher to be effective. Plain water sprayed on with a spray bottle will get rid of spider mites. They are knocked off and can't climb back up. I just heard a talk in which the speaker said plain water kills spider mite eggs. They absorb water and burst. The speaker said greenhouses kept at or over 80% relative humidity don't have problems with spider mites.

[Roberta]

I even spray 70% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) on flowers with no harm... gets the mealy bugs that hide down in the crevices. Drugstore has 90% also, that's too strong. 70% is pretty generic. I just stick a sprayer in the alcohol bottle.