Does humidity really keep away mites?

16 years ago

Heres a good one for all.....

All you ever hear everyone saying.....To control mites, make sure you keep high humidity for plants right?....I am confused though...What if ones has these mites which can be common....

Life Cycle: Cyclamen mites were first reported in the United States about 1900. It has since become famous as a harmful plant pest. Cyclamen mites seem to avoid the light; they occur in hidden areas on plants (buds and between the calyx and corolla and the stamens and ovaries of flowers).""""This mite also prefers high humidity""". The eggs have delicate shells that can often be found collapsed among masses of unhatched eggs and mites. Deposited in moist, dark places and in small groups, the eggs require about 11 days to hatch. The mites molt only once.

Now what? Then if this is the case, why do greenhouses, even places like Florida have problems with mites on their tree in a humid enviroment.? has anyone else ever wondered why? Does anyone have an anwer? Even my local greenhouse was stumped on this one. And to be honest, I think I have this mite problem since my room is so humid and I can haven't been able to get rid of these devils all winter? HELP!!! Am I having a mite problem because I keep my room humid? have they evolved into humid loving pests? Lol

Thanks

Mike

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Comments (8)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
Spider mites thrive when it's dry and warm, but can absolutely do quite well in humid conditions, too. Their populations explode, mostly due to increased temperature.

I shake my head when I hear people say that misting plants will help control mites, but a strong spray of water to the underside of the leaves can dislodge a population and slow their progress down quite a bit.
jean001
16 years ago
Spider mites are different critters that thrive in different conditions than do cyclamen mites.

The rest of the story is as rhizo said.
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meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Rhizo,
You are so right about a strong spray to the underside of the leaves!!! But I tell you, once I do that, whether in the shower or on warm day outside ..Those DEVILS hunker down, and once the leaves dry off, upon close examination, they are still there!! I call then supermites!!!LOl..So much for humidity getting rid of them ha. Keeping the population down, yes this might be so. But if any of us have mites that like humidity.......OUCH!!!And if any of us depend on just humidity to keep them away....Not so!!
I see your addicted to this site to as I...Lol
have agreat day. Man, I have been on for over an hour now and forgetting to do my chores...lol
Take care for now! You are a blessing on this site by the way.
Mike
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Cyclamen mites dote on humidity..the plus side is this particular mite only bothers Cyclamen plant and African Violets.
On the other hand, Tetranychus urticae, more commonly known as red spider or two-spotted spider mite, prefers dry air.
Humidity is indeed important to tropicals/sub tropicals, but if there's no air-circulion venting a room, all the humidity in the world is not going to prevent insects from attacking our plants. The two work together..
I agree hosing leaves is much more effective than misting, but the drawback is: For instance..I have over 300 plants..there's no way on earth I'd be able to haul each plant to the sink/shower on a daily basis..
While misting, I examine foliage..(don't spray cactus/succulents or fuzzy leaf plants)
It's really a matter of choice, nothing mandatory. Thankfully, I've been blessed as far as infestation..don't know if I've a plant Guardian Angel or just luck, but over the years my plants have been insect-free for the most part..every so often, I'll find mites..(during winter, on gardenias) I make a batch of a home made concoction using: water, 2-4 drops of dish soap, garlic, and citrus rind, then spray away..mites are goners.
In fact, in mid-winter, I apply this spray to plants once a week..
I really enjoy misting..to me it's relaxing. Several times, it was through spraying I discovered flowers..and mites. One winter, scale..I spray Fish Emulsion to kill those brats.
So yes, humidity helps, but fresh, circulating air is a must along with it..Toni
don_in_ct
16 years ago
And my two cents are that a control program for your plants at the end of the outdoor growing season can be very helpful. Moving a plant indoors that already has a healthy mite population is an invitation to a real mite party.

In the past I confess I used malathion to control mites, going so far as to take the plants outside for January-thaw sprayings, but these past two years I have used a dormant oil/horticultural oil spray prior to moving the plants inside, combined with as-needed applications of insecticidal soap sprays with as much success as I ever had with Malathion alone.

I am sure I have a few spider mites in residence right now, but they are few and reasonably far between (really!), and if I see an up-tick in their numbers, I hit them with the soap spray and knock them down for a week or three. For example, I've had to spray my Ponderosa Lemon twice this winter because webbing started to appear where the twiggy branches were close together, and where old flower clusters created what must be a favorable environment for the mites. Ironically, the other citrus trees in the room with the lemon show no signs of mites.

Don
meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Hi....
Sounds like you have the mites at bay!!:-)
But what if you discover you have THRIPS, and Fungas Knats all invited to the same party then what? I am so frustrated that I think I am going to sink my plants in a VAT of ACID and then, the party is over.lol
Let me tell you, these stupid pests take all the fun out of growing any plants anymore. Even worst when u have just one sunny room and you have several plants grouped together fighting for the same light! 2 stories up!
Mind you, I treated my plants before I broughtthem in last fall with Kneem Oil several times and even watered the soil with it. I think they are just hiding in our homes all summer until the nicest juicest plant is put before their eyes!! Then they can party all winter.
Sense my frustration? :-(
There must be an easy solution to my crises other than throwing all my 8 citrus trees, 7 plumerias and many more plants away?
Thanks for listening!!
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Mike, do you think your Plumerias are the bug source? How do you winter your Plumerias? Do you keep them in pots or dig and place in a brown paper bag?
I've read Plumerias are mite magnets..Since Plumes go dormant in winter, require little light, do you have a spot that separates plumes from citrus?
What baffles me is, where do bugs come from in the first place? Do they hide in soil? Since they're so tiny, imagine the size of a baby?
I truly believe air ciruclation and well-draining soils keep bugs at bay.
Mike, you grow citrus and Plumerias? Do you have other plants? Some plants are notorius for mites..
Dry air and lack of fresh air causes all sorts of problems. Moreso if the grower can't resist watering when a plant doesn't need it. Overwatering is the number one plant killer.
But the topic is, Does humidity really keep away mites? Yes and no..It sure helps, but I've seen insects while visiting the conservatory..if you've ever gone to a conservatory, you'll know how humid it is...they also have fans blowing..still, when you're dealing with hundreds if not thousands of plants, you're bound to find insects.
IMO, humidity, fresh air, proper watering, well-draining soils and regular misting/showering keeps bugs away. Toni
meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Hi Toni.....

The plumerias I have are cuttings, that I bought and started rooting my self in December. They had no leaves. I had the mite problem before I got them. In fact I know where these critters came from, along with probably thrips and fungas knats. They came from a few Citrus trees I bought at my local greenhouse. I brought them all back within a few days of noticing them crawling around these new plants and unfortunately, thanks to my stupidity, not isolating them before I introduced them to my plant room, I infected everything in my room. I was so upset with the greenhouse, because when I brought them back for a refund, I was told by someone I know who works for them that they knew they were selling them infected...:-( That is why I got 49.99 dollar trees for 15 dollars at the end of their grow season!!
So trying to rid my room all winter of these pests has been a challange, especially with so many plants grouped together on the second floor of my home. ButI have been able to keep up in a way in a small way, because I have never let this problem get to the point where they are out of control, it is just that I can't seem to get rid of this problem entirely. I am constantly spraying, examining, and doing what ever I can do to keep them at bay, thanks with the help with people that care such as you!! I put down towels on my wood floor, in the center of my room, then one by one spray the heck out of them with a mix of neem oil, dishwashing soap,and a small amount of alchohol all mixed in a sprayer every time I can get a chance, which is probably not enough times,it helps though. But Toni, they just keep coming back, not enough to cause webbing though thank goodness. I still feel like I am waging a war!!Even with my plants growing in the optimal conditions, I keep trying to understand why I can not get rid of them entirely. or if I ever will...:-( That is why I can't wait until spring, and then kick then all outside and then BOMB my plant room.
I have alot of Palm trees, which I know are mite magnets and yet they are completely on the other side of the room and I have found none on them yet.:-)
Hope this answers your questions and I hope you keep in touch until I get this problem under control..:-)
By the way, it seems that I will need help in knowing how to winter Plumeria's by next fall. I will be looking for you on this too..lol
Please pray for a quick WARM spring!!

Does humidity really keep away mites?

Comments (8)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

jean001

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