Red spider mites on Phal roots

[imationkarl]

Yep, exactly. Dunk and soak. I wonder what bug it is as I've never seen mites anywhere but the bottom sides of leaves and rarely on orchids.. esp thick leaved ones. I've seen them on cymbidiums but never the roots.

[stumac]

Originally Posted by brooke

Could it be an orange fungus on the media? Spider mites do not usually inhabit the pot. They are an above the ground/container pest.

Brooke

I agree it is probably fungal espcially as you say there are sunken areas on the roots any chance of a photo, Spider mites are leaf feeders not root

[Mervin]

As far as I know spider mites do not like getting wet, therefore it's not likely that there are spider mites in there.

[stylingpat]

I think they got washed off the roots last time I watered, I dont see them today. If they come back up, I will take pictures.

They are like perfect little balls that look like red/orange granules of suger. Very very small.

[stumac]

Defiantly NOT Spider mites they are really small and as stated bfore dont like wet . Keeping a humid atmosphere was one way of keeping them under control

[james mickelso]

Almost sounds like an egg cluster of some sort.

[stylingpat]

Yeah, I took the plant out, and removed them all. We'll see if they come back.

[Brooke]

Did you get a picture of them before you removed them?

Brooke

[stylingpat]

Batteries were dead lol. We'll see if they come back

[stefpix]

Mites are not insects, some insecticides I believe does not kill mites.
Miticides are toxic and expensive.

Just a google search about that would provide a lot of info…
Pyrethrin actually appears to work… but i would do more research,

If I have mite problems I put a plant into a bucket with Dr Bonner soap water and leave it there 30 min. and keep it separate from other plants. But mites are more a dry winter problem.

I would spray a 1:1 soution of alcohol and water. as well