I have never heard of any method of preemptive protection/control being successful with spider mites. Most of the systemic insecticides registered for indoor use have no affect on the mites. They are not insects but arachnids and generally do not respond at all to traditional insecticides. You need a specific miticide for control of spider mites and because they develop a resistance rapidly, it is suggested to alternate between a couple of different products.

Your best bet in avoiding a mite infestation is to provide an environment they dislike. They like it warm and dry, so keeping the plant in a cool location (but out of drafts) and maintaining adequate humidity in the area (and not letting the potting soil dry too much) can help a lot. Actually, spraying down or hosing off the plant periodically is really one of the most effective controls!

But that may be somewhat tricky to accomplish indoors with a 9 foot palm tree :-) How are you able to water something that large inside efficiently.....so that the water runs freely out of the drainage holes?

Insecticide soap works. Also, periodic hosing.

Bayer 3 in 1 insect disease and mite control works extremely well. And is does work as a preemptive protection/control for spider mites. It has for me, year after year.

I battled a spider mite infestation all winter a few years back.

Now, before plants come in, especially ones that are prone to mites, get multiple thorough sprayings over the course of a few weeks before they come back inside.

I havent dealt with any spider mites since.

The 3 in 1 must be used outdoors and is harmless once dried. Wear a mask when spraying.

There are are many that are against pesticides and that’s completely fine. I have not found any organic methods to do anything, especially with a severe outbreak.

70% Isopropyl alcohol would keep the numbers down but would never completely eradicate.

Neem oil showed no results except for smelling bad.

This is is just my personal experience.

But the Bayer 3 in 1 is not a systemic and is suggested to be reapplied ever 2 weeks for effective control. And since spider mites can appear almost spontaneously in susceptible indoor plants (research how they get into a house.....it's rather eye-opening!!), that's going to be difficult to handle with a 9' palm tree (do NOT spray the stuff indoors!!!)

It's not just a choice between organic approaches and stronger, synthetic pesticides. It's a matter of what works effectively and what can be used safely indoors and the methods I outlined are what most sources recommend. And I have found them - and the neem oil - very effective. In fact, I'd even suggest using the neem as a systemic - it has excellent systemic properties when used as a soil drench. YMMV

The Bayer 3 in 1 works as both a drench and a systemic. It’s supposed to keep working for up to 6 months.

With a few thorough sprayings over the the course of a few weeks, you’ve killed off all adults and the young. There are none left to reproduce.

Once inside, if there are no spider mites present on other plants, you won’t have an infestation all winter.

Im not trying to argue. all I’m saying is the Bayer 3 in 1 works really well when it comes to spider mites.

As I mentioned, I did state this stuff is for outdoor use only and that you should wear a mask when using.

Im mainly saying this for someone to think about next late summer before their plants come in If they don’t want to battle mites.

When the plant is already inside, you can keep their numbers down, but if it’s a large plant, you probably won’t get rid of them till they go back outside.

This is is my personal experience with my large Ficus tree. Spider mites love it, no matter how healthy it is, they go right for it. However, the natural predators keep their numbers low enough during the outdoor months to not cause any problems.

If once they come inside on a plant, into a dry house with low humidity where they have no predators, that their propulation explodes.

Thank you, gardengal48 and Dave, for your help. The tree is so beautiful after 6 months outdoors, so I really want to keep it healthy. It had lost two fronds and looked beaten up after suffering the spider mite attack of last winter, but it grew a foot in height and added two additional fronds while outside.

gardengal48, In answer to your question, I have the palm in a deep, round tray on casters so that I can roll it in and out with the changing seasons. The tray has reservoirs so that excess water is captured there.

I will make sure the reservoirs stay full to raise the humidity levels. I am also misting the tree a couple of times a day and will make sure to water adequately.

I’m very interested in the fact that both the 3 in 1 and the neem oil can be used in the form of a soil drench. What are the ratios I should use, and how often would I treat the soil? That would be by far the easiest way to treat the tree.

Thank you again,

Beverly