Using Bayer 3:1 for spider mites

[Darkhorse]

Hey Charlie,

  I'm still working on kicking this spider mite infestation.  I haven't yet tried Bayer 3 in one.  Is it like hort. oil, where you have to spray it on every inch of the plant, or can it be sprayed more lightly?  Also, have they come out with a systemic mite killer yet?

Thanks!!

Jordan

[Charlie]

Hi Jordan,

The Bayer 3-in-1 is sprayed the same as Hort Oil, covering tops and bottoms of all leaves and surfaces of stems. One of the "3" active ingredients is systemic, but it is the one that gets whiteflies and aphids and can actually stimulate mite egg laying. Sad but true. The miticide chemical in it is not super effective, but is better than nothing. The reason that there are no effective systemic miticides is that the mites consume mostly the chlorophyll in the leaves, rather than the sap. They do eat some sap, too, but apparently not enough for the systemic chemicals like imidacloprid to control them. There is a brand new pesticide for commercial growers that is supposed to have some miticide activity as a systemic, but the label on it says it suppresses mite build up rather than outright control of them. I've tried it and think it is helpful but not the full "cure" that we are hoping for. Meanwhile I continue to spray for mites weekly during summer and am hoping for a better solution to come along one of these days.

Charlie