Spider mites just NOT leaving!!!!
 

Hi guys, I have a chronic case of spider mites on my phals and have just spent the better part of an hour picking these @@#$%^&*(*((_)!!!! bugs of my little Mini Mark. They seem to really like the flowers on this little guy. The other plants are also being effected but to a somewhat lesser degree (but I know they are just waiting....)

Part of my problem is my grow area is really small so its not too hard for bugs to go nuts. Right now I am using a combination of alcohol on Qtips and toothpicks to pick the beasts off then spraying with NEEM Oil. Every day..

I am at the point were I am thinking to tossing all my chids and sanitizing the whole living room (this is where I grow my plants). I would like to go in with nuclear weaponry but I do live in the area so my arsenal has to be a bit controlled. Does anyone have any better idea on how to get rid of spider mites? There doesn't seem to be any mites in the potting medium. The bugs are a "fuzzy" white/grey and some seem so big I could ride them. HELP!!!:(( MARY

Hi Mary, does not sound like spider mites more like mealy bugs . mites are hard to see and impossible to pick off , here is a link to pictures of a few pests click on the pest link . Diagnosing Orchid Problems

Might try safers or there is one made by Bayer , not sure what you can get in your area .. Gin

Bug problem IS mealy bug not spider mites!
 

Thanks Gin, that website is a really good quick reference. thanks for letting me know. I am feeling quite overwhelmed by these horrid little fellows. I need to calm down about this abit but I hate to think of these things on my babies:_(

regards, m

Dig your heels in and give em hell , if you can't get or use a systemic get a bottle of the Listerine type mouth wash the (original brownish , nasty kind, generic type is fine add a drop of soap to it ) and spray the plants making sure to get into every cranny use every 3 days 3 times to get ones that hatch, also separate off the ones that you know have them but treat all of them . If they keep coming back may have to re-pot they can get in the pots and feed on the roots . If you use the Neem add the drop of dish soap to it , but be sure to keep plants out of the sun . Gin

clarification - on spraying plants with listerine
 

Hi Gin, do you spray the flowers with the listering or dish soap mix? Part of my problem and I think its important is that my available area is so small, isolating plants is really tough, if not impossible. I will continue to treat the plants....:_(

thanks, m

She gave you some great advice with the Bayer
 

systemic. Great stuff. Kills most anything.:goodluck:

I'm using Bonide systemic for scale and it seems to be working well too. It should work on mealies too.

It doesn't look like a spider mites infestation, I believe they're mealies.
Sorry to say that but is time for the big guns. My first choice: Merit (Imidacloprid). Whatever you decide to use, read the label carefully and act accordingly.

I use Garden Safe Houseplant & Graden Insect Spray produced by Schultz. It contains .01% Pyrethrins and 1% Canola oil. Rest is inert ingredients. Works just fine on Mealies.

thanks for the info folks, if the mealies are in the flowers, do you spray the flowers as well? if so, would that not cause the flowers to drop? please let me know. thanks, m

I hate to say if it would cause the flowers to drop or not , I have used alcohol on blooms on a Sharry that was outside for aphids it did not seem to hurt the flowers , but that does not say the sprays won't, I would try what you decide to use on one bloom. I am a systemic user Orthene WP. phew ! or the Bayer . But I don't grow in the house . cb Sue uses the Listerine maybe she will chime in . if not PM her .Take no prisioners.. Gin