spider mites on tomatoes

 Does anyone have any suggestions how to safely kill mites on tomatoes in a
greenhouse? I tried organics and they don't work. Hosing them doesn't work
and Neem oil with
a dab of soap doesn't work.

 On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:54:59 -0600, "Manelli Family"


Spider mites hate water spraying.  I found that alternate treatments
work better than any one kind of treatment.  You may need to treat
every 4-6 days.  Spray under the leaves.  Bonide sells a miticide
concentrate--I think it is "organic" and contains clove oil.  A soapy
spray is another good treatment--make sure not to get the soap into
the soil.  Read about spider mites to understand how to control them.
Consider predators.  Spider mites are tough!  

 

It's extremely hard to spray anything other than water under the leaves with
the water wand.  The spray bottles wont work upsidedown.  I'll have to get a
pressure sprayer. The plants are bushy and even reaching all the top leaves
isn't easy.  I think I will do a search online and learn more about mites.

 On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:54:59 -0600, "Manelli Family"


I don't believe mites are listed on Neem Oil labels as one of the
insects it helps.  Mites are different.  I can recommend you get the
plant healthy using organic fertilization and proper watering
regularly.  It has been shown that mites do not like the taste of
seaweed, so a soaking spray with properly diluted liquid seaweed every
two days will get rid of the mites and give the plant a better immune
system.

You didn't use organics properly, so of course they don't work.  If
you use proper organic remedies they work, but reading the label is
step one.