While inspecting my plants today, I noticed some damage and small, moving black dots, which I believe to be mites, on at least 2 of my Paphs, my lynniae and my tigrinum!

I've got various pesticides, and of course I can buy just about anything on the web, but I hate to waste my money on snake oil. Does anyone have any experience getting rid of these things? The ones that I see on my plants are tiny and dark, they look darker than spider mites, but I'll need to examine them more closely to be sure.

Any help would be appreciated!

-Matthew

I had mites on a few of my orchids that came from a severely infested, huge areca palm. I got rid of them by 3 applicatons a week apart of systemic Ortho pest spray. Be careful not to get it on any buds or flowers.

Mineral oil will work but you have to spray it for a few times. Avid is excellent but dangerous and you probally need a licence to buy it.

There is a product caled Pyola, sold by Gardens Alive, that works for me on mites. If they are mites, good luck -- they are nasty!

Thanks! It looks like there are a few good choices.

I'm also considering making a Lady Bug chamber. They're supposed to eat mites... and they won't damage the plants. I figure a container like a 10 gallon aquarium with a bag of Lady Bugs from the nursery let loose in it would work wonders on any plant put in there.

Just another one of my crazy ideas :)

-Matthew Gore

you don't want ladybugs for mites
they may work, but not very well
a better choice would be predatory mites
these are sprinkled over the area, then they dispurse themselves and start eating
check out
www.rinconvitova.com
www.greenmethods.com

Ah ha! Thats even better :) Thanks for the tip!

-Matthew

I had a sizeable mite infestation this summer. I left for a few weeks on vacation and came back to quite a bit of damage to my indoor/under lights plants; mostly paphs. I applied Floramite in two applications and haven't had a problem since. Now I know what mite damage looks like (pitting on the leaves-especially older ones) and I'll be more vigilant from now on!!!

I see Floramite SC is available from B&T Grower Supply for $222/qt., almost $7 per ounce. I was lucky enough to have a friend share some with me.

Good luck,
Garland

I have used the Ortho product on my plants workd well but i agree you need to use three applications tough bugs.As soon as the spring rolls around and I can air the room well I will use it again for control I'm not having a problem but I find a bug here and there now and then but without a problem I use alcohol for just spot treating somthing quick

I've been using neem oil recently and it seems to work!

I was going to ask about Neem oil. Some people seem to swear by it, but I'm skeptical... if anyone else has had any good experience with it, please let me know. Thanks everyone! (Anyone want to send me an ounce of Floramite? :D Just kidding)


-Matthew

There is a product caled Pyola, sold by Gardens Alive, that works for me on mites. If they are mites, good luck -- they are nasty!

I forgot to mention the ingredients: pyrethium & canola oil.