Help with spider mites

[PashkaTLT]

Today I noticed a spider mite infestation on my windmill palm, which is currently living in my palm room (where I keep all my palms that aren't planted yet, with good artificial light & humidity). The infestation is at least moderate. Probably its neighbors are already infected too

Any systemic treatments against spider mites?

What's your best advice for dealing with spider mites?

Edited November 27, 2023 by PashkaTLT

[Las Palmas Norte]

Not a systemic but tried, tested and true. Water, organic dish washing liquid applied using a spray bottle.

[Phoenikakias]

Is the so called palm room an integral part of your home, where you spend some time every day? I would NEVER use insecticides, miticides and fungicides inside a residence! A biological method in such case would be immense times more preferable.  Thought of buying and letting loose some predator mites?

[happypalms]

Increasing humidity may help mites love dry conditions take them outside a good blast with the hose a intergrated pest management system lady  bugs predator mites pyrethrum or neem (it’s organic) mites build up a resistance to chemicals so you need to rotate your chemicals but if indoors that is not a good idea and neither are chemicals but that may be a last resort 

[Gallop]

Best product I’ve found is Avid 0.15 EC Miticide. I use this in a rotation in my Greenhouse. 

[SeanK]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

Increasing humidity may help mites love dry conditions take them outside a good blast with the hose a integrated pest management system lady  bugs predator mites pyrethrum or neem (it’s organic) mites build up a resistance to chemicals so you need to rotate your chemicals but if indoors that is not a good idea and neither are chemicals but that may be a last resort 

Agree. If you can carry the plants outside, treat them there or hose them down. Then bring them back inside.

[PashkaTLT]

On 11/27/2023 at 7:00 AM, Phoenikakias said:

Is the so called palm room an integral part of your home, where you spend some time every day? I would NEVER use insecticides, miticides and fungicides inside a residence! A biological method in such case would be immense times more preferable.  Thought of buying and letting loose some predator mites?

The palm room is an ordinary room in our home that we can use for the palms in the winter.

Yeah, thought of buying and letting loose some predator mites. Is that fine to do in doors? My wife is a little worried about letting predator mites loose indoors...

[sonoranfans]

neem oil is a very effectiuve miticide and is good for use on vegetables.  I have used it a few times in the past kills the mites fast with 2-3 applications they should be completely gone.  Its approved for use on food but I would avoid the inhaling of spray so apply in the garage or somewhere outside and let it sit an hour and bring it in.  Another safe and effective mite killer is insecticidal soap which is also approved for consumables.  I would never use anything else inside the home.  And yes the mites dont like humidity and thrive in dry conditions..

[PalmsandLiszt]

33 minutes ago, PashkaTLT said:

The palm room is an ordinary room in our home that we can use for the palms in the winter.

Yeah, thought of buying and letting loose some predator mites. Is that fine to do in doors? My wife is a little worried about letting predator mites loose indoors...

Predatory mites work well in this situation up to a point; it depends how many plants you have, and how much you can spend on predators. If you release them gradually then they'll take some time to have any impact, during which the spider mites might do considerable damage; if you buy them en mass and release all at once then they'll solve the problem and then all starve to death. They are tiny, will stay on the plants and you won't notice them. Your house is undoubtedly full of dust mites and other mites you don't notice, as is everyone's.

If you want to use chemicals instead, the product called 'Killermite' has worked well for me. This will also kill predatory mites and pretty much all invertebrates and stays in the plant for a few months. I only started using this because it works out so much cheaper than predators. I have not noticed any mite population developing any immunity to it; it's basically invertebrate sarin.