"Jonathan Sachs" wrote in message
...

Thank you for the suggestions. I looked up "miticide" and found that
there are several different varieties: methoprene, hydroprene,
permethrin, probably others. What type would you advise me to look
for?


The best, most reliable, and most effective miticide is a mites natural
predator like Phytoseiulus. Unfortunately you have wiped out all of your
beneficial insects with your attempts to control the mites with chemicals.

If you could just bit the bullet for a bit and let your natural ecosystem
recover I think you would have far less problems. Stop with the chemicals
and systemics- they are doing no good and are preventing nature from dealing
with things. Lay the pots on their sides and blast the foliage with water
every other day or so and be done with it. You will have a brief overgrowth
of spider mites but as nature comes back to life they will diminish to
manageable numbers. A water blast is all you need to control them in the
meantime.

I too used to use a different chemical for every "pest". But in 1996 I
stopped cold turkey and after recovering my yard and plants have never been
healthier. Beneficial insects returned and began controlling the pest
species. Gardening is now fun and easy instead of smelly and toxic. Nature
works.


--
Toni
Hills of Kentucky
USDA Zone 6b
http://www.cearbhaill.com