Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.

Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442030

By DewsandTraps -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:25 am
Location:  Eastern Washington (Zone 7a)
Posts:  176
Joined:  Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:55 am

- Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:25 am #442030

Almost all of my Vft's are infested with spider mites(red dots all over) and im wondering on how to get rid of them. I want to repot the vft's soon but I want to get rid of the mites first. I've looked in other topics and overall people say to submerge the vft's in water for some time. How long should i suberge them and should I do it on and off? Or is there some kind of bug killer that I can use to get rid of them?
Most of my vft's are already dormant and about half are recovering from a bit of a drought.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442046

By Panman -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 12:37 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6708
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- Fri Nov 10, 2023 12:37 pm #442046

I recommend submerging them in water for a few days. Make sure the entire plant is covered. I've heard that Avid works for mites but I've never used it.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442052

By ChefDean -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:13 pm
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9813
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:13 pm #442052

Submerging was just recently discussed here.
As to Avid: I typically get spider mites once a year, and I've used Avid. It works very well, but you need to take care with using it. No wind, keep critters away, protective clothing, wash up immediately, etc. Plus, it's spendy.
Another option I've begun to use is predatory mites. You can get 1,000, enough to treat an entire hobby growers collection, for (if I remember correctly) under $15 online.
You could probably find them elsewhere, but I've been very satisfied with naturesgoodguys.com for natural, chemical free solutions such as mites, ladybugs, and predatory nematodes.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442053

By andynorth -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:41 pm
Location:  Federal Way, WA
Posts:  1658
Joined:  Fri May 12, 2023 9:08 pm

- Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:41 pm #442053

How do you get lady bugs to not disperse soon after releasing them? many years ago when I was in to growing roses I tried both lady bugs and preying mantis. Neither stuck around for long and did nothing for my aphid infestation.

Are preying mantis harmful to CP's? If not, might that be another option?

Thank you:
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Andy North

Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442072

By ChefDean -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:49 pm
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9813
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:49 pm #442072

I get enough ladybugs that some inevitably stick around. But I also wait until my milkweed is heavily infested so they have a greater incentive to stay close. I usually get 1,500+ per order.
Assuming you got oothecae (preying mantis egg cases) the babies don't stick around after hatching because they'll eat each other.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442073

By Intheswamp -  Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:03 pm
Location:  N31°43'59" USDA 8a/b
Posts:  3497
Joined:  Wed May 04, 2022 2:28 pm

- Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:03 pm #442073

ChefDean wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 5:49 pm I get enough ladybugs that some inevitably stick around. But I also wait until my milkweed is heavily infested so they have a greater incentive to stay close. I usually get 1,500+ per order.
Assuming you got oothecae (preying mantis egg cases) the babies don't stick around after hatching because they'll eat each other.

Well, technically the eaten mantes are still around. A little different form, but....

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442370

By DewsandTraps -  Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:32 am
Location:  Eastern Washington (Zone 7a)
Posts:  176
Joined:  Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:55 am

- Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:32 am #442370

ChefDean wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:13 pm Another option I've begun to use is predatory mites. You can get 1,000, enough to treat an entire hobby growers collection, for (if I remember correctly) under $15 online.
You could probably find them elsewhere, but I've been very satisfied with naturesgoodguys.com for natural, chemical free solutions such as mites, ladybugs, and predatory nematodes.

Could you send me the link of the specific predatory mites that you bought?

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442383

By ChefDean -  Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:49 am
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9813
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:49 am #442383

https://www.naturesgoodguys.com/product ... 3376376003

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442397

By davinstewart -  Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pm
Location:  Chapel Hill, NC
Posts:  345
Joined:  Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:29 pm

- Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pm #442397

I've also heard that spider mites don't enjoy higher humidity. I've definitely had more problems when I try to overwinter my vfts indoors and the humidity drops to ~30%.

So maybe bump up the humidity if it's low?

Also, if you're overwintering your vfts the you might want to let them go dormant. I'm thinking that cold temps might be good for killing off the mites as well.

- Davin
"All cultivars were typicals at some point."

Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442453

By DewsandTraps -  Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:39 am
Location:  Eastern Washington (Zone 7a)
Posts:  176
Joined:  Sun Oct 02, 2022 12:55 am

- Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:39 am #442453

ChefDean wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:49 am https://www.naturesgoodguys.com/product ... 3376376003

Thanks.

davinstewart wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pm So maybe bump up the humidity if it's low?

Also, if you're overwintering your vfts the you might want to let them go dormant. I'm thinking that cold temps might be good for killing off the mites as well.

The temp where I'm keeping most of my flytraps is around 60 degrees F with about 45% humidity. Is that considered cold and humid?

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#442461

By ChefDean -  Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:14 am
Location:  Clarksville, TN
Posts:  9813
Joined:  Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:44 am

- Wed Nov 15, 2023 10:14 am #442461

davinstewart wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pm I've also heard that spider mites don't enjoy higher humidity.

Not necessarily. I get spider mites every year, but not until mid to late summer when the humidity is ~ 60%. Plus, because these plants are almost constantly in a moist, if not wet, environment, the immediate humidity where the plants and mites inhabit will be higher.

davinstewart wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 2:29 pmI'm thinking that cold temps might be good for killing off the mites as well.

Freezing maybe, but spider mites burrow into the media and hibernate through the winter.

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that I make bad decisions.

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Re: Spider mites!!! How do I get rid of them.#443815

By andynorth -  Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:16 am
Location:  Federal Way, WA
Posts:  1658
Joined:  Fri May 12, 2023 9:08 pm

- Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:16 am #443815

What is better overall, Floramite or Avid? I would like to have on hand just in case.

Thank you:
andynorth-s-grow-want-list-t58612.html

Andy North

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