I have a problem with spider mites in my fig room that I can't seem to get under control using the normal soap/alcohol spray bottle.  Has anyone ever tried bug bombs?  I can close off the room they are in and set one off, but I'm unsure if it will kill mites and for that matter not damage my figs.  Has anyone done this in their house or greenhouse before?

Nick

Spider mites are really hard to get rid of indoors. I wouldn't use a bomb, but that's due to my own personal stand point on poison..especially inside my living quarters. I would manage them until they are outside and then deal with them more severely if I had to. They will die off inside your house when there is no longer any plants for them to live on. I don't know if you have any house plants, but they will harbor them as well.

I had/have the same problem. I wanted to keep it organic so I bought some Bonide Neem Oil spray from my local nursery. Less than a week into the battle and they're all gone. Here's a link to the product I used. A bit expensive but I didn't want to mess around. http://www.amazon.com/Bonide-022-Ready-Use-32-Ounce/dp/B007CRG4CW/ref=pd_sim_lg_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QT4X1JK4BJKD05PBYMX

Neem Oil works!! I've used it on several different kinds of plants. It has killed the mites and never harmed any of he plants or me. 

Hi John I just posted a few links about getting rid of spider mites on my banana trees in a thread a few weeks ago. Heres one of them. It works like a charm. https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=131

I think my mites drink the neem oil like steroids! I'll have to read up on some of the other options, but at this point if you don't think the bomb will kill my figs, I'm ready to give it a try!

Nick

I accidentally over-sprayed a fig plant with Deep Woods OFF! ...burnt up every leaf it touched.  You can rule that one out :/

Could you bring your indoor plants outside and BLAST them with water?  That works on mites outside.  Maybe put the plants in the sink and BLAST them full on with the spray nozzel?  The water BLAST somehow disturbs their reproductive cycle.  It can't be a gentle spray.  That will do nothing. 

if you dont have a persanal "all green" stance, bug bombs did not appear to cause any harm to my figs

[QUOTE=DesertDance]Could you bring your indoor plants outside and BLAST them with water?  That works on mites outside.  Maybe put the plants in the sink and BLAST them full on with the spray nozzel?  The water BLAST somehow disturbs their reproductive cycle.  It can't be a gentle spray.  That will do nothing. [/QUOTE]

I could bring my smaller plants out quickly, but the larger ones would be a hassle with all the snow here... I'm guessing if I can't get them all, theyll just spread back.

[QUOTE=greg88]if you dont have a persanal "all green" stance, bug bombs did not appear to cause any harm to my figs[/QUOTE]

Thanks Greg. Anyone who shops at a grocery store has likely eaten things much worse than bug bomb spray :)

[QUOTE=johnnyq627][QUOTE=greg88]if you dont have a persanal "all green" stance, bug bombs did not appear to cause any harm to my figs[/QUOTE] Thanks Greg. Anyone who shops at a grocery store has likely eaten things much worse than bug bomb spray :)[/QUOTE]

Johnny,

yes, I know what you mean. I work in the Meat / Food business and it amazes/frustrates/maddens me for all the miss information and out right lies that are told by the anti-meat groups,,,,,  When you  know the TRUTH,  the U.S.A. has one of the, if not THE, safest food systems available out there.  The big guys pretty much do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because USDA inspectors are (or are not) sitting there.  "all natual" or "organic" does not mean it is necessarly better for you or safer for you..
just my semi educated $0.02

;o)

I just don't understand what is so terribly wrong with spraying a plant with a soapy solution with a little alcohol in it.

[QUOTE=RichinNJ]I just don't understand what is so terribly wrong with spraying a plant with a soapy solution with a little alcohol in it.[/QUOTE]

Tried that... they keep coming back.

[QUOTE=johnnyq627][QUOTE=RichinNJ]I just don't understand what is so terribly wrong with spraying a plant with a soapy solution with a little alcohol in it.[/QUOTE] Tried that... they keep coming back.[/QUOTE]

I can say Ive had that same experience. It works great for me on my bananas. It worked even better than a stinky systemic poison (that you can't buy anymore) I tried a few times to use with no luck a few years ago.  Are you following the directions for the mix in the link I provided? You will need to do it a few times over a a week or two.

Do Ladybugs eat spider mites...????

[QUOTE=RichinNJ][QUOTE=johnnyq627][QUOTE=RichinNJ]I just don't understand what is so terribly wrong with spraying a plant with a soapy solution with a little alcohol in it.[/QUOTE] Tried that... they keep coming back.[/QUOTE]

I can say Ive had that same experience. It works great for me on my bananas. It worked even better than a stinky systemic poison (that you can't buy anymore) I tried a few times to use with no luck a few years ago.  Are you following the directions for the mix in the link I provided? You will need to do it a few times over a a week or two.[/QUOTE]

Rich, the mixture you posted was stronger than what I used. I mixed a batch per your instructions tonight and took the opportunity to up-pot and spray every fig tree in my room. I'll keep everyone posted...

[QUOTE=armando93223]Do Ladybugs eat spider mites...????[/QUOTE]

Not sure, but they do sell a different type of mite that eats spider mites.

are they harmful? I have them everywhere in my backyard... on my bonsais and all...

[QUOTE=Aaron4USA]are they harmful? I have them everywhere in my backyard... on my bonsais and all...[/QUOTE]

Spider mites make fungas gnats look like cuddily puppies. They suck all of the moisture out of the leaves.

Pure water/moisture (spray) is the worst enemy for them dry loving condition mites.
Some mild soap in water will help too.  

Ok the 409+rubbing alcohol not only didn't work, but it looks like it's going to kill a lot of my leaves. I had cleared out all of the spider mite webs yesterday before spraying... today there were a few back. Not a good option.

[QUOTE=johnnyq627]Ok the 409+rubbing alcohol not only didn't work, but it looks like it's going to kill a lot of my leaves. I had cleared out all of the spider mite webs yesterday before spraying... today there were a few back. Not a good option.[/QUOTE]

Must be doing something wrong.

It works for orchids says the AOS which are a lot more finicky that fig plants and it h
as worked on my banana trees for years

[QUOTE=RichinNJ][QUOTE=johnnyq627]Ok the 409+rubbing alcohol not only didn't work, but it looks like it's going to kill a lot of my leaves. I had cleared out all of the spider mite webs yesterday before spraying... today there were a few back. Not a good option.[/QUOTE]

Must be doing something wrong.

It works for orchids says the AOS which are a lot more finicky that fig plants and it h
as worked on my banana trees for years[/QUOTE]

Pretty straight forward... added a pint of rubbing alcohol to an empty gallon jug, added pint of 409 to the same jug, filled the rest of the way with RO water, then sprayed and soaked the trees. Perhaps figs don't like something that the orchids don't mind.

oh, mine don't make webs, they are blight orange color and run around like crazy all day. I think they are called Orange Spiders? they are tiny round dots running like crazy.

[QUOTE=johnnyq627][QUOTE=RichinNJ][QUOTE=johnnyq627]Ok the 409+rubbing alcohol not only didn't work, but it looks like it's going to kill a lot of my leaves. I had cleared out all of the spider mite webs yesterday before spraying... today there were a few back. Not a good option.[/QUOTE] Must be doing something wrong. It works for orchids says the AOS which are a lot more finicky that fig plants and it h as worked on my banana trees for years[/QUOTE] Pretty straight forward... added a pint of rubbing alcohol to an empty gallon jug, added pint of 409 to the same jug, filled the rest of the way with RO water, then sprayed and soaked the trees. Perhaps figs don't like something that the orchids don't mind.[/QUOTE] Were the leaves so far gone that they were going to drop off anyway? I've had big banana leaves turn brown and curl up in a couple days when I've had a bad infestation that I was not paying attention to. You have to spray several times and you have to soak the tops and bottoms of the leaves stems etc. Spider mites lay 1000's of eggs and all those new mites must be killed as well hopefully before they lay eggs.

A couple of leaves had brown blotches, but most were very green, especially new growth. This morning many are brown and dried out. Apparently bananas can take the mixture better than figs.