Spider mites
 

Hey,
Wondering if anyone knows of an effective way of getting rid of spider mites? I'm thinking along the line of systemic control. I live in Canada, and can't seem to find anything so far.


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Most of the insecticides we use in the US are banned in Canada. I wish you luck in your endeavor.

I've been told that Rosemary essential oil mixed with water in a squirt bottle works on spider mites. Someone else added garlic and allowed it to infuse within the solution....and said it works well. I've never tried either because I use a systemic. I would try it though, in your situation.

Good luck.

Spider mites
 

I found this via google. Don't know how helpful it will be, but it can't hurt to try!

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/organic...tes-78260.html

Never *ever* use garlic, it can contain viruses.

Hydrolised neem oil works.

In Europe in the chemicals available, there's only pyrethrins and Masaï™ (tebufenpyrad) that work.

Garlic contains compounds called allion and allicin, which have direct antiviral effects. It's known to kill various flu viruses and has been used as an effective antibiotic for centuries.

Like I said...I've never used it but the "old timers" do and they say it's effective. You could give it a try on one plant. Eventually the plant will end up with a fungus or a virus secondary to the mites so what do you have to loose? :)

Allicin has a half-life of a few seconds - it's why garlic supplements are a complete waste of money.

Andre, you can still find Bayer 3-in-1 in big box stores, and it's supposed to kill mites. I imported Ray's SucraShield, and paid nearly 100% duty on it. But it's organic, and goes a long way.

Also, if you join your local orchid society, there are probably vendors who will sell you bootleg products from the US. They do in Toronto.

While the plant viruses in garlic last a long time…

Garlic has known and recognized virtues, but what you can do on your vegetables you grow every year from seed is different to plants who can live for years and years… You can spray viruses on your cabbages it may not ruin them, but on orchids, in the long run, there WILL be issues. Especially as both garlic (like tobacco, tomatoes…) share common viruses.

That's really nice to know! I learned something new! Thanks for the info! :biggrin:

What "some people" do is order online and have the products delivered to the nearst UPS store on the USA side of the border. Then zip across and pick up your stuff. You're close. Also, "some people" do exactly the same for orchids. Perfecly legal as long as you declare and pay duty.

How many orchids do you have?
If you have just a few, then manually washing the leaves down helps.

I know it sounds like a tedious work, but that's how I deal with them if I ever have them on my plant, which rarely happens but one of my tall nobile dendrobiums got some spider mites in the fall two years ago.

One thing is, spider mites (and other mites) in general indicate you are not watering your plants enough (underwatered thus stressed plants seem to have special magnetic attractions for mites) or the air is too dry.

I'm an indoor grower, so except for the summer when I leave my window open and the humidity naturally stays relatively high here in NYC, the air tends to be rather dry.

I mist my plants often and try to water all my orchids well as long as I remember or have time for them.

Then I also check the back of the leaves quite often just in case there are any mites hiding. Spider mites are easy (at least for me) to identify visually because they are much bigger than some other mites.

If intestions are bad, and even if it isn't too bad, first either wash down or wipe off them all off with water.

If possible, mist the leaves every morning.
Wash down the plant (especially the back of the leaves) with either plain water or mild soapy water every other day for a couple of weeks and that is usually the end of spider mites. The reason you need to wash them off this often is so that you get the missed ones from previous washing and the new hatchlings.
After about a couple of weeks, you manage to break the cycle and they are gone unless they are reintroduced, which they can, if you leave your window open, they can travel in easily.

Also, if you have other houseplants around, check them for the presence of mites.
I find orchids to be much more resistant in attracting bugs compared to other plants.
so check other plants if you have them near your orchids.
I had to discard one houseplants that was loaded with mites while orchids near it had none on them.
Orchids are tough, but they need care. ;)

Low humidity is typically associated with spider mites, as stated above. If your collection is less than a couple hundred plants, I would treat them individually and then follow typically 'best practice', which would be to treat all plants in the general area - one to two plants in all directions should be enough for spider mites.

I typically use a 409/propanol alcohol mixture for insects. Mix 1 part original 409, 1 part rubbing alcohol and 2 parts water and place in spray bottle. Spray all surfaces of the plant - for tough insects - like white scale - brushing with a toothbrush helps. Also, removal of any old leaves or sheaths (anything bugs can hide in or under) and don't forget the cracks and crevices.

RHF

Thanks for the ideas. I live fairly close to the US border, so I might have to make a trip. I'll try to find the bayer spray. My collection is about 100 plants, so a systemic product would be my choice.


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Agreed, this is what I've done on some keikis that have had spider mites.

I found that repeated washing down of the leaves (every couple of days while watering) seemed to get rid of the mites. However I did have a re-occurance of them months later... was it because I had never got rid of them or just because they are attracted to this particular orchid... I don't know. However washing them down regularly again the last couple of months and I've seen no more sign and the keiks are growing well.

However these are small plants, and while there are a lot of them it's fairly easy while watering to just pour all over and rub each leaf down with my fingers.

With the much bigger parent plant I gave up because it was much harder to manually wash down on a regular basis.