Spider Mites: Phalaenopsis

Signs of Mites

• Spider mites weave delicate, airy webs that you aren't likely to see without spraying the foliage with water and holding the plant up to the light, according to the American Orchid Society. Wipe a clean, white facial tissue across the undersides of the foliage. If it comes away red or brown, your Phalaenopsis has a case of the mites.

False Mites

• False mites do not weave webs and are even more difficult to see than true mites. They do, however, produce the same leaf silvering as true mites. As of November 2010, they exist only in Florida, California, Panama and parts of Europe, according to the American Orchid Society.

Mite Damage

• Plants that are plagued by spider mites may look pale, because the mites are sucking the sap from the foliage and lowering chlorophyll levels. False mites cause dark spots on the foliage and tissue death if left untreated.

Control

• Many people do not notice spider mites until the population has grown quite large. For large infestations, a miticide --- a pesticide formulated for use on mites --- may help. An immediate solution is to thoroughly wipe down each leaf with a clean, wet cloth then prepare your own insecticidal soap. Mix 1 tsp. of mild dish soap or peppermint soap in 1 quart of water and spray it on the foliage daily until the mites are gone. Promptly remove dead plant material.