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Suze · April 11, 2011

Hi, cushman-

I used to have a fair amount of problems with spider mites when I lived in the Metroplex, but since I moved to Bastrop county in late '06 not nearly as bad for whatever reason.

However, this year and rather early too, I have already seen a few crawling around on the undersides of the leaves. It has been unseasonably hot and dry here - maybe that is why.

Anyway, the best defense I have found against them (that is available to the home gardener) is pyrethrins. I use a product called Pyganic. The quick knockdown effect is excellent. Edit/add - while it is "organic" you still want to be careful when you spray it so as to not get it on your skin or breathe it in. I have tried misting in the past but it did not seem to work that well. It also significantly increased foliar fungal disease. Glad it is working for you though.

Edit/add x 2 - agreed about that second hatch and how bad it can be if you don't manage to get them under control rather early.

April 11, 2011	#3
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	Hi, cushman- I used to have a fair amount of problems with spider mites when I lived in the Metroplex, but since I moved to Bastrop county in late '06 not nearly as bad for whatever reason. However, this year and rather early too, I have already seen a few crawling around on the undersides of the leaves. It has been unseasonably hot and dry here - maybe that is why. Anyway, the best defense I have found against them (that is available to the home gardener) is pyrethrins. I use a product called Pyganic. The quick knockdown effect is excellent. Edit/add - while it is "organic" you still want to be careful when you spray it so as to not get it on your skin or breathe it in. I have tried misting in the past but it did not seem to work that well. It also significantly increased foliar fungal disease. Glad it is working for you though. Edit/add x 2 - agreed about that second hatch and how bad it can be if you don't manage to get them under control rather early.