Pest control (spider mites and aphids)

I've finally figured out how to get rid of 'em in houseplants!!!

Ok, first of all. If you have a spider mite problem that is so bad that you have webs and/or aphids completely covering the new growth on your plants, you should just get rid of the plants that are particularly this bad.

Steps I took for light to moderate infestations (both aphid and spider mite infestations were in all my plants):

1) Got rid of plants infested badly and even plants where the spider mites affected the leaves (those white spots)

-I recommend taking cuttings from the plants you throw out, to start new ones

2) Cut new growth from plants if covered with aphids (they are usually worse and hard to control on new growth)

From this point on make sure you do all of your plants at the same time, even if they don't SEEM infested. They could be. Also make sure the soil is dry before you do the remaining steps.

3) Pick off by hand every single green aphid remaining on the foiliage

4) Take your plants outside and lightly shake the foliage and mix up the topsoil a bit so the winged black aphids take flight. Quickly bring them indoors again cuz those aphids stick to their prefered plants like magnets. Those winged aphids are how they colonize other plants with more green crawlers. I also recommend putting a bottle with a small opening (beer/wine bottle) filled a quarter full with red wine right next to each plant. The aphids sense the fermentation smell and fly in. Because of the small opening they can't get back out, so they suffocate and drown.

5)First make sure you've watered and fertilized your plant well before continuing.

6) This is the really important one: Use CONCENTRATED End-all (insecticide AND miticide. Means it's good for spiders and insects). Do not follow the instructions and spray the foiliage with the watered-down solution. This just wrecks the leaves for a lot of the plants, because they can't breath with that soapy solution. Take a spoon (better than pouring from bottle cuz you have no control) and soak JUST THE TOPSOIL of the plant with the concentrated End-all (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch down). Spread the soil around like butter until your SURE it has all been coated. Do not miss any spots, but don't drench the plant. Trust me, I missed a few spots and I checked several days later and they were living in the spots I missed. Pat the soil down firmly. This will suffocate all spider mites and aphids in the soil. And most of the solution doesn't make it to the roots, Best of both worlds! This is why you water the plants before hand

6)Spray all foliage until it is soaked with just plain water. This will prevent the transfer of spider mites to other plants.

7)Over the next few weeks, mist JUST the topsoil every time it becomes dry. This prevents the spider mites that may be remaining (which there shouldn't be if you've followed the above steps properly), From laying their eggs. And they also hate moisture. If you must water the plant more, put water in the saucer so the water comes up to the roots from the bottom. You do not want to drench the soil because of that layer of End-all in the topsoil. It's also a good idea to keep misting the leaves, lightly this time. And mainly in the mornings, so the foliage won't wilt.

8) You may have to provide extra light to the treated plants. Mine started wilting just a tiny bit, and I placed them in better light, and they are as happy as ever. Not seemingly affect at all by this treatment

There! I have done this, and I haven't seen a single spider mite or aphid in 2 weeks. I am now doing this with ALL plants I get from the store, before I put them with the other plants. That's how it all gets started!

I have never heard of the products you used, not here in UK anyway, but red Spider Mites live on the foliage, lay there eggs on the foliage and will only go to hibernate in winter in crevices, if they find a warm place, never heard of them living within the soil, misting is the best way to try stop them breading as they dont like damp humid conditions, this spraying dont kill the red mites but it interferes with their fast rate of egg laying, the red spider mites we get here are best controled by the parasitic wasp that is so small you wont even know you have it, this wasp only feeds on red spider mites and when no mites left, the wasps also die off, one red spider mite will lay about a hundred eggs, one week later that hundred will be mature enough to lay a hundred eggs each, so you can understand why plants get so quickly killed, all these mites chomping on the green foliage, Like you, a few years ago, I was given a lovely Angels Trumpet as a gift, It came with red spider mite and it took me 2 years to rid my conservatory from these mights, so as you say, it is best to either isolate new indoor plants for a week or so, or mist them do death, these mights seem to be on the increase here in UK and I wonder if they are being shipped from overseas as we seem to be importing lots more tropical types of plants these days for indoor growing, our climate is too cold for them to survive outside, even in summer, good luck with your new found regime, if it works, do it, is the best motto. WeeNel.

I spoke too soon. It got rid of the red mites for a while, but they came back. The active ingredient in the End all I used was Pyrethrins. The mites aren't interested in any of the plants foliage right now, but im concerned that the vegetables im growing indoors for this spring are going to get infested and there is nothing else I will be able to do. They really do look like red mites, so im pretty sure (they look like the two-spotted mite except they are a solid brownish red colour)

Can this wasp be used indoors?

I also heard that oils (neem) and predator mites are effective too. Is this true?

I spoke too soon. It got rid of the red mites for a while, but they came back. The active ingredient in the End all I used was Pyrethrins. The mites aren't interested in any of the plants foliage right now, but im concerned that the vegetables im growing indoors for this spring are going to get infested and there is nothing else I will be able to do. They really do look like red mites, so im pretty sure (they look like the two-spotted mite except they are a solid brownish red colour). I've been looking at pictures and it doesn't look like the European red spider mite, but it definetely looks similar/same as other species of red spider mites (like the Southern red spider mite)


Can this wasp be used indoors?



I also heard that oils (neem) and predator mites are effective too. Is this true?

I'm not too sure about the red spider mites you have, the type we get here in the UK cant be seen by the naked eye, the first sign you have them are as you said earlier, is when you notice the very fine but thick blanket of webs they spin, the only time I ever notice the mites was when viewed through a magnifying glass, they are so tiny, they are normally Brown, but the females turn a reddish shade when breading.
The parasitic wasp can only be used in an enclosed are to prevent them flying off, they are about the same size as the red mites so you wont even notice them munching away on the red mites, they are totally harmless to all but the red mights and when they have devoured all them, sadly the wasp dies off too. I have used the wasp 2 times, they were delivered by post, came in a very small plastic test tube mixed in with some vermiculite, so all I had to do was sprinkle this mix onto the foliage of my infected plants and step back, it was about a week before I noticed any improvement, the 2nd time I used this method, I ordered a larger quantity of the wasps, and sprinkled them onto ALL my indoor plants, had no trouble since, but, once you have these mites, you become so vigilant when buying new plants, you become obsessed and more watchful. now I have a strict misting program that perhaps the mites (if any) just dont get a hold, I would go ahead with your veg plot, the mites dont go to any old plant, they are quite selective, but keep any really young seedlings well away as it seems to be the more tender foliage of plants they like, even mature plants that have tender/softer foliage is to their liking. Good luck, hope all works out for you. WeeNel.

Help! I have a palm (indoors) that is infested with something that has left white flour looking dust all over the stems of the plant. I did notice a web of some kind as well. Is this a spider mite problem? or....? I heard that you should spray with Dr. Bronner's castile soap for such pests.

All the ideas in this thread are great; some may be useful to me. But, first I need to know what I'm dealing with. What do you think?

If you post a pic, we can help more positively identify the problem but for now, it does sound like spider mites. Check under your leaves and see if you see any tiny dark brown/red dots that appear to be moving.

The only way I got rid of mine from my ivy was to hose the whole plant thoroughly (leaves and stems) twice a week for about 2-4 weeks. I don't know how big your palm is but you can probably bring it outside and hose it down. The pressure from the spray helps knock the mites off but I also used my hands to try to wipe down the leaves and stems as I was spraying. Be sure to get the underside of the leaves as this is where most of them are hiding. You may have to repeat the process again in a month or two -- it can be tough to get rid of these.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Anna

Thanks for your replies. I have now identified the problem as mealy bugs. They leave white cottony sticky substance and when I press them it turns brownish red; this is a sign of mealy bugs. And, I can actually see the bugs and have identified them. Now, what to do.

I have removed some of the leaves and stems that were the most effected.

None of my other plants seem infected with mealy bugs but my husband has a large orchid collection and I dare not get any mealy bugs on the orchids.

Bact to mealy bugs. Suggestions?

For mealies on houseplants, I usually take a q-tip, dip it in rubbing alcohol, and use that to rub them off the plant. Most of my houseplants are relatively small though, for larger plants this is probably not the best way to go

I took the palm outside. Within two hours most of the white cotonny stuff was gone. Then I sprayed it with the hose and got the rest off. Could it be this easy? Will report again in a few weeks.

It can be that easy, but with most types of bugs you'll need to keep an eye on the plant and probably repeat the hosing off a couple of times to make sure you really got them all and they're not starting to come back.