This is what I had in my notes for spider mites...

"To check for spider mites, hold a piece of white paper under a leaf, and give the leaf a good tap. If tiny rust-colored specks drop onto the paper, the plant has spider mites. Treat with insecticidal soap, or make up a solution of 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1/2 teaspoon horticultural oil and 1 quart water. Apply to the plant with a spray bottle. The next day, wash the plant with fresh water, and repeat the process until you no longer see evidence of spider mites. It may take four or five treatments to eradicate these pests."

As I recall, it took me SEVERAL treatments to get rid of them!

Also, make sure you take that plant, and those close to it, and seclude them FAR away from the rest of your plants!!! An unused bedroom would be great...there is nothing worse that having these little monsters on nearly every houseplant you have!!! Keep checking EVERY plant often for them...

Bill also has this info:

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bugs.html

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We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.

1. There is no reason to spray the soil because spider mites do not live in the soil. If some of the soap spray runs off into the soil, it will do no damage.

2. No, you don't have to rinse the soap spray off, although there is no benefit to leaving it on.

3. If you are confident in your ability to look for and spot spider mites on nearby plants, then it may not be necessary to spray the nearby plants. If you are anxiety prone or a very cautious person, then you probably should spray the nearby plants. Also keep in mind that some plant species are mite magnets while others are ignored by the mites. If you let me know the names of the nearby plants, I can probably help you determine if they are likely mite targets. Spraying plants with a soap solution will do no harm as long as the plants are not in direct sun while the leaves are wet.

4. No doubt there were a few mites on your plant, but in such small numbers that you didn't notice. If conditions are not conducive to mite reproduction, they will go unnoticed for a long time. However, once the air dries out and the temps go up (usually in winter) these critters breed like crazy and before long you have an explosion of spider mites that causes you to say, "Where the #*#@** did they come from!" Keeping temps on the cool side and the air humid will help deter spider mites.

ok, question...
( yeah, i know this was a dumb thing to do )

i as shopping tonight and found a plant i just had to have. not really even sure what it is. it was on a clearance rack of sorts... but... i think it has spidermites. i bought it anyway

so, if i "ostrasize" it in a room with no other plants, and make sure it gets good light, and spray it with soap water every couple of days, do you think it is salvagable? I mean, i know I could refund it, but i'd never seen one just like it before and ihave been in every garden shop in the area lately looking for a hanging plant water bottle. found it, in the same store as the plant!! and is there a household oil that i could use with the soap? don't have any $$ until thurday, goofy me spent my last $2 on that plant!!

Crabby - D. marginatas are quite prone to spider mites, so do monitor it carefully, especially the undersides of the leaves. Corn plants rarely attract spider mites.

Jiffy - Spider mites are not that difficult to deal with. A very thorough spraying of your new plant (all leaf and stem surfaces, dripping wet) with a soapy solution is more effective than many less thorough treatments. Once you have sprayed it thoroughly once, there is no need to quarantine any longer.

Jiffy,

Yes, your treatment was very thorough so there is no reason to quarantine. Continue to monitor your plants carefully for any future infestations.