For anyone struggling with spidermites!!!

[rhawes]

I have had quite an ordeal with the spidermites!!!! Anyways, I just found on the web a method to first spray with insecticidal soap and then I wait a minute or two then I rinse off the soap and spray with a neem oil mix with some castile soap. I have noticed a big difference using this method. I hope this message helps anyone struggling with these pests!!!

 

[Pitoon]

Neem oil or lime sulfur......mixed appropriately.

 

[waydeo]

I'm going to try a systemic insecticide for my evergreens that are prone to spider mites. So far I have used safer insecticide soap with good luck. I'm a little leery of neem oil during the hottest part of the summer .

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I used to be plagued with them, as well as rust mites on bald cypress and gall mites on serissa. I use Avid, a miticide, twice yearly and have little or no problems with them now.

 

[August44]

I'm going to try a systemic insecticide for my evergreens that are prone to spider mites. So far I have used safer insecticide soap with good luck. I'm a little leery of neem oil during the hottest part of the summer .

What systemic insecticide will you use?

 

[waydeo]

August 44 , I have been using Bioadvanced all In one rose and flower care systemic for about 2 months on my Rose's and bonsai. Japanese beetles were eating holes in leaves really bad. Got rid of Japanese beetles, spider mites and some fungus on them. I also used safer insecticide spray to help too. No more beetles or mites since i started using this. I used a teaspoon or a half teaspoon depending on pot size on my bonsai and so far no bugs or fungus. So far, no problems using this .

 

[GGB]

I get rid of spider mites with shade and water. I got hit this year so I moved everything into the full shade and watered the foliage twice daily. I had the pots directly on the ground and kept it damp all around the pots. Spider mites are naturally killed off extremely fast by many types of fungi that grow in shady damp conditions. We all know that spider mites love sunny dry conditions and the reason is because those fungi don't grow there. But don't take my word for it, google it. As far as using insecticides to kill mites..... I'd google that too. Mites aren't insects, there's extensive literature on why that's a bad idea. I'm not shaming anyone for trying, it makes sense on the surface but doesn't work in practice. Neem oil sprays, lime sulfur and dish soap mixed with water (or my favorite half water, half milk) will kill the adults but not the eggs. Only the fungi wipes all stages out in one shot. Or maybe some hardcore miticides do too, can't speak from experience because I never needed to go that far. Not saying not to use miticides either, I'm just a hippie. But if your going to spray chemicals it should be the ones that will work

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

As far as using insecticides to kill mites..... I'd google that too. Mites aren't insects, there's extensive literature on why that's a bad idea. I'm not shaming anyone for trying, it makes sense on the surface but doesn't work in practice.

Insecticides kill humans too. There are a few that are so gnarly that they wipe out spider mites as well.
But you're right, ample humidity and water will get rid of them too. But this brings other issues with it, especially on conifers.. They don't do well in the shade and they don't fare well with high amounts of water.

 

[waydeo]

I'm glad to find out about shade helping to keep spider mites away.

 

[GGB]

But you're right, ample humidity and water will get rid of them too. But this brings other issues with it, especially on conifers.. They don't do well in the shade and they don't fare well with high amounts of water.

It's true, but I've seen zero ill effects from placing conifers in the shade for 6-10 days during the heat of summer. In fact, they're technically better for it because the mites are gone afterward. Ideally the trees would have been kept healthy enough that mites never moved in but sometimes we just have to push trees to find a limit. I often find that the mites originate on one tree (that I pushed to hard in some way) and a few migrate over to the neighbors. But I catch outbreaks very quickly, the upside of only having 15 trees

 

[bonsaiboyphx]

I used to be plagued with them, as well as rust mites on bald cypress and gall mites on serissa. I use Avid, a miticide, twice yearly and have little or no problems with them now.

Regarding using AVID, curious what trees you use it on? I bought some then realized it says its only for ornamental plants, and I have spider mites occasionally on my Kishus. My other Junipers don't get them, but they seem to love Kishus. Do you know if Avid is safe for Kishu and Junipers in general? The label on AVId says ornamentals only.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Regarding using AVID, curious what trees you use it on? I bought some then realized it says its only for ornamental plants, and I have spider mites occasionally on my Kishus. My other Junipers don't get them, but they seem to love Kishus. Do you know if Avid is safe for Kishu and Junipers in general? The label on AVId says ornamentals only.

I have used it on Kishu with no problem and it is effective. Use PPE though, and keep pets away; that stuff can be dangerous.

 

[bonsaiboyphx]

I have used it on Kishu with no problem and it is effective. Use PPE though, and keep pets away; that stuff can be dangerous.

Hey Thanks for the quick reply. I used Avid on my kishu once, but got scared when i read it was only for ornamentals. So I don't get resistance, I've also just ordered some Floramite. And I agree about safety, I have 2 small dogs, and after I spray I don't let them in that area for 24 hours. I use a mask, goggles, long sleeves and gloves for myself as well, since its strong stuff.

 

[Scorpius]

Forbid 4F. Once and done.

 

[penumbra]

I use Dr Bronners soap as my first line of defense. I use the same soap for showering and hair washing. I have for 40years now.

 

[19Mateo83]

Captain jacks dead bug works pretty good too

 

[August44]

I use Dr Bronners soap as my first line of defense. I use the same soap for showering and hair washing. I have for 40years now.

U got mites in your hair??

 

[penumbra]

U got mites in your hair??

Absolutely not. I have been using Dr Bronners for 40 years.

 

[BobbyLane]

mites are definitely more common across the pond, possibly the climate. we dont see much mite threads on UK forums.

 

[HENDO]

Spider Mites can be terrible in Houston - if you want to target them directly, can't beat this stuff: