u/CMDR_WoChiPingguo — reddlx

after bouncing back nicely with some good hydration she’s under attack! i started to notice red spider mites so I dusted pretty heavily with DE. after a few days it looked like they were still crawling around on it unbothered by the DE so I sprayed an insecticidal soap. next day realized that wasnt a good idea so I misted and wiped it off. also applied predatory mites but I can’t tell if they are doing a damn thing. i see tiny red and slightly larger tan/clear bugs here and there on it. the tan ones move relatively quickly and often retreat into the crevices, they are sort of oblong/oval shaped.

thinking of getting a sulfur powder. i also noticed some of the spines look like they might have tiny black spots on them, kind of worried that could be mold as well.

I was admiring my loph’s flower in the sun a few days ago and noticed red mites walking around. I immediately applied diatomaceous earth on and around and gently moved it around with a small paintbrush. After 4-5 days i thought i had taken care of it but saw some mites just chilling under the powdery DE and continuing to feast. I freaked out and sprayed some organic insecticidal soap which i now know was a terrible idea, and i rinsed/wiped that off this morning.

For outdoor growers how do you manage the mites? Do i need to treat the roots? Would predatory mites help, or have i created a bad environment for them too now between DE and soap? Is there a technique to applying DE more effectively?

They did so much damage so quickly, its crazy. I want to keep her outside but i am worried about all the bugs. Thanks!