The two spotted spidermites in the video were sprayed with Circadian Sunrise by the Entomologist, Glen Forister (retired from UC Davis), who then took this video of the results. It takes good spray coverage to get good results. Mites may survive or take longer to die if only lightly misted or partially sprayed. When you spray any pesticide, take the extra time to do it right, and be sure to treat upper and lower leaf surfaces. Spray with sufficient force to blast away webbing, otherwise the webbing will hold the spray up above mites and their eggs. Thinning foliage can definitely help with getting better spray coverage. How much to thin? That can vary with species, varieties, and growing conditions. It is a bit of an art, but in general thin the oldest leaves first. They are the least efficient at photosynthesis. Just open the canopy enough to improve airflow, and then remove a few more leaves (your call on how many–you’re the artist) to provide room for new growth. At the same time I’d remove weak buds as they will compete for energy with those buds you want to keep.
