How to get rid of spider mites using folk remedies

Author: Natalya Category: Plant pests Published: March 01, 2019Last edits: October 28, 2020

Spider mites (lat. Tetranychidae) are a family of arachnid arthropods of the order Thrombidiformes, representatives of which are found throughout the world. In nature, there are 95 genera and more than 1270 species of spider mites. The most famous member of the family is the common spider mite.

Description

Spider mites reproduce very quickly and instantly move from one plant to another. Pests feed on the contents of plant cells. The presence of mites can be detected by the appearance of small white dots on the leaves of the plant on the underside of the plate and by the thinnest cobwebs. As a result of the activity of spider mites, some of the plant cells are destroyed, and the intensity of photosynthesis decreases.

With severe damage, the leaves turn white from multiple damages, the plant is enveloped in cobwebs, and a mass of mites accumulates on the tips of the leaves and shoots.

In addition, the mite can infect the plant with incurable viral infections and gray rot spores.

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At home, in the garden and garden, plants are damaged by several types of spider mites:

• common (lat. Tetranychus urticae): the length of female common spider mites can be from 0.4 to 0.6 mm, males are usually shorter - from 0.3 to 0.45 mm. At the larval stage of development, mites are transparent, painted in different colors: from pale green to greenish-brown. Large dark spots are clearly visible on the sides - the blind sacs of the midgut. Tick ​​larvae have 6 legs, and adults have 8 translucent legs with prehensile claws. Spider mites live everywhere except Antarctica. The life cycle of the common tick consists of several stages: egg, larva, nymph and adult, colored red-brown and orange (females), as well as greenish or yellowish (males). The common spider mite is a polyphagous, that is, a polyphagous arthropod;
• red (lat. Tetranychus cinnabarinus). This pest damages agricultural and ornamental plants. In warm regions it lives in open ground, and in northern regions it lives only indoors;
• Atlantic (lat. Tetranychus atlanticus) – a ubiquitous species of mite that damages cucumbers;
• Turkestan (lat. Tetranychus turkestani) is a polyphagous plant that feeds on both garden plants (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) and ornamental plants.

Common pests from this family also include red-legged and Savzdarga ticks. However, despite such a variety of pest species, measures to combat spider mites are almost the same.

What you need to know about spider mites

The color of a spider mite can be anything from pink to gray. The insect has eight legs, moves slowly, and is barely 1 mm in size. If there are spots on the back of the insect, this is a sign of a two-spotted mite. This species is one of the most resistant to destruction. The following mites are also known:

• ordinary,
• red,
• Atlantic,
• Savzdarga,
• red-legged.

Although the lifespan of ticks is only one and a half months, during this time they leave dozens of eggs. Larvae emerge from them every 3–5 days. Small mites gnaw leaves with their jaws and drink cell sap from them. This disrupts photosynthesis, and sooner or later the plant dies.

The spider mite got its name because of its ability to produce secretions - small white threads.

If there are few individuals, the web will not be visible. But if the plant is attacked by an army of mites, they completely entangle the leaf

Although the mite can infect more than a hundred species of plants, there are those that they love more than others:

• bananas;
• miniature roses;
• fruit trees;
• begonias;
• mint;
• strawberry;
• jasmine;
• houseplants.

Ticks are especially active in hot weather. Then they lack moisture, and they take liquid reserves from plants. They can settle on flowers standing on windowsills, as they collect a lot of dust, which mites love. Insects are capable of carrying various infections and gray rot, which is another reason to get rid of them immediately.

Preventative treatment

The main reason for the appearance of spider mites on plants is dry air, so the best preventive measure is spraying plants in dry weather. However, you need to ensure that water does not remain in the grooves and core of the plants for a long time.

You need to be especially careful in winter, because under conditions of short daylight hours and low temperatures, at which indoor plants remain dormant, water evaporates more slowly. There is no point in immersing the entire plant in water to get rid of pests: when mites come into contact with water, they are protected by air bubbles covering them.

To protect against spider mites, spraying indoor plants with undiluted medical alcohol is sometimes used, but care must be taken when doing this.

In dry weather, both indoor and garden plants should be sprayed with water. However, this procedure is only effective as a preventive measure, but if spider mites have already settled on the plants, completely different measures must be taken.

Fighting with folk remedies

To combat spider mites, there is a wide selection of folk remedies - decoctions and infusions of plants that have insecticidal properties and are used for spraying. For example:

• 1 kg of finely chopped dry leaves and stems of black henbane, pour 10 liters of water, leave for 12 hours, strain and add 20-40 g of liquid soap;
• 1 kg of dry or 2.5-3 kg of fresh henbane grass, collected during the flowering period, add a small amount of water and boil in an enamel bowl for 2-3 hours, then cool, strain and add water to a volume of 10 liters;
• Pour 200-400 g of crushed roots or 500 g of fresh leaves of dandelion into a bucket of warm water (about 40 ºC), leave for 2-3 hours, strain and use immediately: the first time when the leaves bloom, the second time after flowering, the third time after 10-14 days;
• 1 kg of crushed dry or 2 kg of fresh gray alder leaves is poured with water and left for 24 hours, then boiled for half an hour and filtered after half a day;
• 1 kg of crushed dry or 3 kg of fresh chamomile, pour 10 liters of water at a temperature of 60-70 ºC, leave for 12 hours, strain, dilute with water 2-3 times and add 10 to 40 g of liquid soap;
• Infuse 400 g of dry tobacco or shag in 10 liters of water for a day, then boil for 2 hours, cool, strain, add water to a volume of 10 liters and add 50 g of soap;
• Chop 500 g of garlic, add 3 liters of water, leave for 5 days in a warm, dark place and strain. To treat plants against ticks, 60 g of infusion is diluted in 10 liters of water and 50 g of soap is added;
• 1200 g of fresh or 800 g of dried green potato tops are poured into 10 liters of warm water, left for 3-4 hours and filtered;
• 200 g of onion peels are poured into 10 liters of warm water, left for 4-5 days, filtered and treated with plants three times every 5 days;
• 4 kg of chopped tomato tops are poured into 10 liters of water, boiled over low heat for half an hour and filtered. Add 2-3 liters of tops decoction and 40 g of soap to 10 liters of water.

Treatment of plants with decoctions and infusions is carried out in the evening as a preventive measure or when there is a small number of mites. Try to alternate folk remedies for treating spider mites. Soap, washing powder (4-5 g per 1 liter of water) or liquid detergent are added to the decoction or infusion immediately before the procedure. It is better not to use folk remedies from poisonous plants at home. Keep in mind that plant poisons are just as unsafe for humans as chemicals, so when preparing them, try not to exceed the dosage.

How to treat indoor flowers?

Before you start processing the flower, you need to buy it in the shower. This will not completely destroy spider mites on indoor flowers, but will reduce its population.

Work should be carried out with gloves and in the open air (in the garden, on the balcony) or in the bathroom.

Important! It is necessary to treat indoor plants against spider mites for up to 12 hours at an air temperature of 21-25 degrees.

The processing procedure consists of the following stages:

1. The chemical is diluted in a bucket, following the instructions exactly;
2. The soil is covered with a plastic bag so that it does not crumble and the chemical does not get on it;
3. The flowerpot is turned upside down and dipped in the solution;
4. You need to chat and shake so that the liquid gets everywhere on the leaves.

Some gardeners prefer spraying from spray bottles. Washing in a bucket with a solution is much safer for the person himself, and is also more effective in combating spider mites.

During their life, mites lay eggs, so the drug must be applied in 3 stages:

1. First, adults are removed with one means;
2. After 5-6 days, a second treatment is carried out with another agent (ticks quickly get used to the poison) in order to destroy the individuals that have hatched by this time;
3. After another 6 days, it is worth carrying out a control third treatment. It is better to take another remedy.

Water

If the spider mite has just begun to spoil the flower, you can really do without chemicals, but use water. For example, every day for a week, wipe the leaves 2-3 times with a damp cloth, and then spray them with a spray bottle, creating a moist environment.

It is moisture that ticks do not like.

This method is especially suitable for plants with large leaves (Dieffenbachia, ficus, croton).

If spider mites have recently appeared on indoor plants, the flower can be treated with “wet therapy”.

For this purpose, you need to cover the pot with cellophane and buy the flower in the shower. Next, the cellophane is removed, and a plastic bag is put on the plant itself and tied.

The soil should remain open.

After 5-6 days, the package is removed. A week later the procedure is repeated again.

The moisture that collects in the bag will kill the tick, and repeated treatment will kill the new ticks that hatch from the eggs.

To prevent mold from appearing in flower pots due to excessive moisture, prevention must be carried out. Read more here.

Remedies and preparations for spider mites

Since mites, spiders and scorpions are not insects, insecticides are useless against spider mites. Effective drugs against arthropod pests are acaricides (Sunmite, Demitan, Omite, Flumite, Floromite, Nissoran, Bicol, Bitoxibacillin, Envidor, Apollo, Borneo) or insectoacaricides (Akarin, Agravertin, Vertimek, Dursban, Karate, Kleschevit, Fitoverm, Aktofit, Neoron , Talstar, Fufanon, Oberon). All these drugs are used in strict accordance with the instructions.

Plants are treated with chemical protection against ticks several times to ensure that the most persistent individuals and their eggs are destroyed. At a temperature of 20 ºC, at least three treatments must be carried out with an interval of 10 days, and at a temperature of about 30 ºC, 3-4 treatments are necessary every 3-4 days, otherwise the females that emerge from the eggs will have time to lay new eggs.

Unfortunately, among the listed drugs there are no ones that would be absolutely safe for humans, so it is better to prevent the appearance of pests. Make it a rule to regularly inspect your plants and carry out preventive spraying.

How to fight

Traditional methods

Old, well-known methods of exterminating plant pests mostly involve the use of improvised means, which are always safe for humans and will not harm seedlings due to the absence of chemical components. Here you can use ordinary products that are always available at home, or simple pharmaceutical preparations.

1. Hydrogen peroxide. You will need 3% peroxide (2 tablespoons) and 1 liter of water. Spraying is carried out 3-4 times with a break of 1 week at 20 degrees or 3 days at 30C. This treatment can destroy the entire family of spider mites.
2. Vinegar. For 8 liters of water take 2 tbsp. l. essences, everything is mixed. Spray the cucumber seedlings generously with this product. It also helps against cruciferous fleas, aphids, and codling moths.
3. Sulfur-tar soap. Dissolve 100 g of soap in a 10-liter bucket and spray plant flowers 2-3 times a week. You can also prepare the following solution: 40 g of soap per liter of water.
4. Ammonia. Spray the plants in the same way as the recipe with hydrogen peroxide. To do this, prepare the following mixture: 1 tablespoon of ammonia per 10 liters of water. It is useful to treat the leaves on both sides not only to remove mites, but also to saturate the plant with nitrogen.
5. Dry (powdered) mustard. Brew 60 g of powder in 1 liter of water, let it brew for 3 days in a tightly sealed container. Dilute the resulting tincture with 3 liters of water and spray the cucumbers with it. Spider mites are very afraid of the smell of mustard.
6. Iodine. Helps fight, among other things, for plants that have already been affected by disease. Treatment is carried out by spraying cucumber vines on both sides with a solution of 10 parts water, 1 part milk and 7-10 drops of iodine.
7. Laundry soap will also help against these insects. Wash the plants with warm soapy water. The remaining foam does not need to be removed. You can also spray the cucumbers with a soap solution. The method only helps with a small number of mites.

The drug Fitoverm is also very effective in the fight against spider mites, which is not quite a folk method, but not yet a chemical one. This is a kind of biological insecticide created on the basis of the vital activity of soil microorganisms. The product does not contain chemicals and is therefore absolutely harmless to humans. The fruits can be safely eaten 2-3 days after processing. Fitoverm perfectly helps to get rid of both spider mites and many other garden pests, without making them addictive. Does not cause burns to plants after use.

Duration of action of Fitoverm:

The solution must be prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package; it must be used immediately (do not store). Usually just 2 treatments (1 per week) are enough to get results. If it is not possible to obtain the drug, it can be replaced with 80 g of sulfur or 100 g of bitoxybacillin.

Chemical methods

The last treatment with chemicals is prohibited less than 2-3 weeks before fruiting. A more precise interval between spraying and collection is indicated on the packaging of each specific insecticide, as well as its dosage and frequency of use.

How to deal with spider mites in the garden

Spider mites on cucumbers

The presence of spider mites on cucumbers can be determined by white puncture spots and light, thin webs. With severe damage, the leaves turn white completely. Pests accumulate on the leaves and shoots of the plant. How to treat cucumbers against spider mites? You can start fighting the pest by spraying with warm water with laundry soap dissolved in it, but before that, severely damaged leaves must be removed from the cucumbers and burned, preventing the proliferation and spread of spider mites to other plants. It is better to completely destroy cucumber bushes that are infested with ticks.

Growing cucumbers in open ground - planting and care

To create conditions unbearable for mites, on a cloudy day, water the garden bed generously, then immediately cover it with film: under the cover, the air humidity will become very high, and this will greatly harm spider mites.

• Cyclamen mite / Phytonemus pallidus

If the damage is significant, the cucumbers will have to be treated with acaricides. However, the appearance of ticks in a bed of cucumbers can be prevented if you change the area for the crop every year, plant the bushes according to a scheme developed by specialists, without thickening the planting, and in the fall, remove all plant debris from the bed and dig up the soil.

Spider mite on pepper

Peppers are mainly parasitized by tetranych mites. From their punctures, a characteristic marbling is formed on the leaves. Spider mites settle on pepper seedlings and adult plants. Over time, the puncture points merge, and the affected leaves turn brown. As mites move through the plant, they leave webs on the leaves and stems. Heavily webbed plants dry out because their photosynthesis and transpiration rates are reduced. The loss of pepper yield due to severe spider mite infestation can reach 60%. As with other plants, favorable conditions for spider mites to appear on peppers include dry air, dehydration of plant tissues, and too high levels of nitrogen in the soil.

Growing peppers - planting and care in open ground

The fight against spider mites on peppers is carried out in all possible ways: removing the affected leaves, and sometimes the entire plant, spraying with water, insecticidal infusions and decoctions in the evenings, and also, in case of severe occupation, treating the pepper with chemicals. Among the folk remedies, washing plants with a soap solution (a bar of laundry soap per 10 liters of water), spraying with 96% alcohol, a decoction of black henbane, tobacco or an infusion of garlic are effective. Of the acaricides, the most effective are Kleschevit, Apollo, Akarin, Actellik and Dicofol 20%.

Spider mites on eggplants

A spider mite that has settled on eggplants can cause colossal losses, since it can destroy the entire crop in two weeks. And if you do not take measures to destroy it, then, after overwintering in the soil, the pest in the spring will take up the destruction of next year’s crop with renewed vigor.

Growing eggplants in open ground - planting and care

As soon as you notice discolored spots on your eggplant leaves, start dealing with mites immediately. By what means to do this is up to you. If there are few ticks, you can start with folk remedies that are less toxic to humans or use a biological method: introduce predatory Amblyseius or Phytoseiulus mites, which can be purchased at garden centers, into the garden bed. But if there are a lot of pests, do not waste time and immediately start treating eggplants with acaricides.

Spider mites on tomatoes

Having appeared on tomatoes, spider mites bite through the leaf plates, as a result of which they turn yellow and dry out. As a preventative measure, it is necessary to regularly weed the beds and remove damaged leaves and shoots from the bushes. The fight against pests on tomatoes begins with the use of folk remedies, and it is necessary to resort to acaricides only if treating tomatoes with decoctions and infusions does not produce results.

Tomatoes in open ground - planting and care

What folk remedies help get rid of mites on tomatoes? Soap solution (1:6), two percent bleach solution, medical alcohol, black henbane infusion. Of the chemical preparations, it is better to use Plant-Pin, Fitoverm, Actellik, Etisso, Apollo, Aktaru, Antiklesch or Fufanon.

Getting rid of pests using natural means

Not every gardener and owner of indoor flowers uses chemicals to control pests for fear of harming not only the plant, but also their health. To eliminate spider mites, you can use natural folk remedies.

The stages of getting rid of the parasite are as follows:

1. If possible, the infected plant should be removed away from other flowers. Using a sharp pruner, cut off all damaged leaves, even if only one spot appears, and remove all fallen leaves. The affected leaves should be placed in a sealed bag and thrown away, or better yet, burned. If the plant is too badly damaged, it is better to throw it out completely to save other flowers. Water only from above, and remove the leaves as soon as you notice signs of damage.

2. Systematically wash and thoroughly wipe all indoor plants. If the parasite has not managed to completely occupy the flower, then wiping the foliage can help get rid of the pest in the early stages. For wiping, you can use either plain water or a solution of water with a weak detergent. Castile or insecticidal soap is most suitable. After a week, if the infection continues, you need to repeat the procedure. However, remember that not every plant can easily tolerate the effects of soap, so before wiping the entire flower, try sprinkling a small piece of the leaf with soap.

3. Use natural herbal tick repellents such as feverfew, rosemary oil, neem oil and cinnamon stone. If you use the former, the result will be effective, but some spider mites are immune to chamomile. From the second, spider mites will die, but beneficial mites will survive. The third will repel ticks and work as a preventive measure. The fourth will destroy ticks, but not their eggs.

4. Infected plants growing outdoors or in the garden should be washed regularly with a hose. You need to spray water under strong pressure, the stream should be directed to the underside of the leaves to wash away the pests.

5. Organic salts can be used to control ticks. The combination of fatty acids with potassium salts should be diluted with water and the plants should be sprayed with this solution in the evenings. Particularly effective against two-spotted spider mites.

6. Prevent weeds from growing around the plants, and promptly remove debris and fallen leaves.

7. Increase the number of predatory insects that will prey on spider mites, such as ladybugs and lacewing larvae. In order not to destroy the “helpers,” you need to stop using pesticides that reduce their population, for example, Malathion and Carbaryl. Insects can be purchased at garden centers or attracted naturally using the herbs amaranth and borage.

If possible, try to destroy ticks naturally, without using pesticides, since pests can quickly develop immunity to drugs.

Fighting spider mites on flowers

Spider mites on roses

Spider mites on flowers are as common as on vegetables, but of all garden flowers, roses attract the pest the most. Plants that are depleted by improper care primarily fall victim to spider mites: white dots appear on the leaves of roses, and when severely infested, whitish spots appear. Then the leaves turn yellow and fall off, cobwebs appear, and upon closer examination, small moving dots—spider mites—can be seen on the underside of the leaves.

Growing roses - planting and caring for the garden

Since the best fight against diseases and pests is prevention, do not forget to water your roses and carefully inspect the back of the leaves as often as possible, and at the first sign of pests, begin to destroy them. If you miss the moment, then by autumn the number of fertile ticks can increase hundreds of times. Even the arrival of winter will not solve the problem: the mites will safely overwinter in the soil or under leaves and in the spring they will again begin their destructive activities. Therefore, ticks must be destroyed immediately and for sure, using acaricides Neoron, Fitoverm, Actellik and the like. When preparing solutions for treating roses, strictly follow the instructions, since acaricides contain substances that are dangerous to humans and domestic animals.

Fighting spider mites in the orchard

Spider mites on currants

A spider mite that appears on the leaves of black, red or white currants can threaten the complete loss of the berry harvest. If the berries have already set before the mites appear, they are in no danger: the mites will harm the leaves, but will not significantly affect the quantity and quality of the harvest, so you can fight them using folk remedies. Infusions and decoctions of insecticidal plants will do a great job with a small number of spider mites. But if there are a lot of pests and if they appeared before flowering or before the ovary ended, then the ripening of the berries may be at risk.

Growing currants - planting and care in the garden

If you find mites on currants before flowering, feel free to use acaricides to kill the pests. Keep in mind that white and red currants are more vulnerable than black currants. So:

• first remove from the bush and burn absolutely all the leaves damaged by the mite, then water the bushes abundantly, washing away the remaining insects with a strong stream;
• be sure to remove cobwebs, otherwise they will turn into a water-repellent barrier;
• a good result is obtained by spraying the bush with water, if immediately after this you briefly wrap the plant with a film, creating an eighty percent air humidity under it that is unbearable for ticks;
• Place jars of turpentine or ammonia around the bush and cover the bush with film: turpentine and ammonia will quickly kill ticks;
• folk remedies will almost certainly cope with a small number of pests, but if the bush is severely affected, then, without wasting time, start treating the currants with acaricides.

If you notice spider mites on gooseberries, use the same means to control them as you would to control pests on currants, since the two crops are closely related.

Spider mites on grapes

In addition to common spider mites, grapes are damaged by red fruit mites and sometimes hornbeam spider mites. Newly hatched red fruit mite larvae can be seen on the underside of young grape leaves in early spring. The common spider mite first develops on weeds and appears later on grapes. But these types of mites harm grapes in the same way: with their pointed lower jaw they penetrate the cells and absorb their contents, releasing their poisonous saliva into the leaf tissue.

How to grow grapes - planting and care

When grapes are early affected by mites, their leaves practically do not grow and are deformed, often curling, acquiring a light brown color and falling off prematurely. The degree of damage is influenced by the grape variety, nutrition, location of the bush and weather conditions.

• Flat mite / Brevipalpus

Before the buds open, it makes sense to treat mite-affected grapes with Nitrophen or DNOC, after removing diseased leaves and severely damaged bark. After the start of growth, the plants are treated with Neoron, Fozalon, Akrex, Pliktran, Keltan or Rogor. If the drug has a short period of action, you need to repeat the treatment after 10-12 days. You should know that spider mites are capable of developing resistance to drugs, so when processing, alternate acaricides with different active ingredients.

Spider mites on strawberries

The most dangerous parasites are strawberry mites, especially since they are very difficult to notice. As a result of the activity of mites, the entire berry crop can be destroyed, and at the same time there remains a possibility that, due to mites disrupting the growth of flower buds, problems with the harvest may arise next year. Gardeners have identified the following pattern: the older the strawberry bed, the more damage the pest can cause to it. Ticks are most dangerous for bushes that are 3-4 years old.

Growing strawberries - planting and caring for them

Infection of strawberries with spider mites occurs through seedlings. Pests can enter the area from people's shoes and clothes. Peak population growth occurs in August and September. You can detect mites on strawberries by the following signs:

• the bushes do not develop, small wrinkled leaves with abnormally curly edges appear on them;
• a silvery film forms on the underside of the leaves;
• leaves acquire a yellowish tint;
• the berries do not develop and dry out;
• In winter, the plantation freezes.

When starting to fight mites on strawberries, you should know that they concentrate in places that are difficult to treat, so it will not be possible to completely destroy them. But in order to curb the development of the population and save the harvest, it is necessary to fight spider mites. The best way to destroy the pest is to release predator mites into the area. Biological enemies of ticks can greatly reduce their numbers. After harvesting, you can cover the bushes with plastic film, preventing air from getting under it. When the temperature under the film rises to 60 ºC, remove it and cut off the affected bushes at the root, then cover the bed with humus. You can also use folk remedies, for example, spraying with onion or garlic infusion: once at the very beginning of the growing season and twice after harvesting, each time after treatment, covering the strawberries with film for several hours.

Spider mite on an apple tree

If there is a strong invasion of spider mites, the apple tree may lose up to half of its leaves by mid-summer. As a result, its productivity is significantly reduced. Therefore, as soon as you notice the presence of pests on the tree, begin to decisively combat them. Of the folk remedies, the most effective is tobacco solution, which is used to treat the apple tree twice at intervals of a week. In advanced cases, you will have to spray the apple tree with Nitrophen or Decis twice: after the ovaries appear and a month before harvest. In the fall, you need to remove all fallen leaves and fruits from under the tree, cut out old and diseased branches in which ticks can overwinter, and burn all these plant debris.

Growing apple trees in the garden - planting and care

Spider mites in greenhouses

Spider mites on seedlings

Spider mites in a greenhouse with cucumbers and other plants can produce up to 20 generations of pests in one year. Spider mites enter the greenhouse and spread throughout it in search of the best conditions and the most suitable crop. Most often, their victims are cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, even in the seedling stage. Along the main leaf vein of the leaves, tiny, pinprick-like, yellowish dots appear, which become colorless over time, and then a thin web appears, along which mites can easily move. Pests concentrate in the upper part of the plant, sucking cell sap from the leaves, settling on their underside.

To reduce the risk of spider mites appearing on seedlings in a greenhouse, you should alternate seedlings when planting: cucumber seedlings with tomatoes, cabbage or leafy vegetables. Inspect the seedlings as often as possible, and as soon as you find mites, remove and burn the damaged leaves, and in case of significant damage, treat the seedlings with Bitoxibacillin, Fitoverm or colloidal sulfur, and if these drugs do not help, use a solution of a broad-spectrum acaricide - Actellica, for example. The sooner you take action, the greater your chances of saving the seedlings.

Spider mites on mature plants

It is impossible to expel spider mites from a greenhouse with ultraviolet rays, infusions and decoctions of plants, or spraying with water. To save the crop, you will have to use acaricides, treating the plants with their solutions every two weeks until the pest is completely defeated. If there are a small number of spider mites in the greenhouse, you can try to cope with them with the help of their biological enemies - predator mites. There will be no harm to vegetable plants from phytoseiulus: as soon as there are no spider mites left in the greenhouse, it will die of starvation. If you have to use acaricides, strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety rules for working with toxic drugs in enclosed spaces.

As a preventive measure, at the beginning of winter it is advisable to fumigate the greenhouse with sulfur in order to destroy ticks that have gathered to spend the winter in the greenhouse. Instead of sulfur, you can spray the greenhouse with a solution of slaked lime, and heat the supporting metal risers with a gas burner. During the period of planting vegetables, maintain high air humidity in the greenhouse through timely watering and frequent spraying of plants with water. Weekly two-minute treatment of the greenhouse with ultraviolet rays increases resistance to pests and diseases.

Spider mites on indoor plants

Spider mites on an orchid

To protect orchids from spider mites, you need to create conditions for them that are as close to natural as possible. And even if you succeed, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the flowers, because the sooner you can detect pests, the easier and faster you will get rid of them. Optimal living conditions for ticks are air humidity of 30-40% at a temperature of about 27 ºC.

The red mite most often settles on the orchid, which is called false mite because it does not weave a web. This makes it more difficult to detect. He can enter the room with a new plant or a bouquet of flowers. After a tick bites, a silvery sheen appears on the orchid leaf, then the leaf turns yellow and falls off. You can find out whether there are mites on an orchid by placing a piece of apple on the substrate: after a while, all the pests will gather on it.

Each new flower must be inspected before being brought home. To prevent the spread of mites, wash your orchids regularly in a (relatively) hot shower. Orchids with tough leaves, such as cattleyas, can be wiped with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, but test the alcohol on a small area of ​​an old leaf first.

Since folk remedies are not always effective, and you don’t have to eat orchids, it makes sense to treat mite-infested plants with acaricides without wasting time.

Spider mite on lemon

You can determine that your indoor lemon has spider mites by the appearance of yellow dots on its leaves and yellowing of their tips. If you put a white leaf in a pot and shake the plant, and then look at the leaf under a magnifying glass, you can see mites. At a later stage, a thin web may appear on the lemon. The mite poses a danger to the lemon tree not only in itself, but also as a carrier of viral diseases, for which, alas, no cure has yet been invented. That is why, at the first sign of the presence of spider mites, you need to take immediate action.

Lemon care at home

After protecting the soil in the pot with a plastic bag, wash the crown of the tree with soapy fifty-degree water. As a result of the water procedure, there will be significantly fewer ticks on the lemon. You can protect lemon and other indoor plants from spider mites by placing a pot of geraniums nearby to repel these pests. Rosemary oil, the aroma of which pests cannot tolerate, helps protect lemons from ticks: dilute a few drops of oil in warm water and spray the lemon. Frequent but short-term exposure to ultraviolet rays repels ticks and strengthens plant immunity. To do this, you need to turn on the lamp for a couple of minutes every day.

But if, as a result of all these attempts, you have not been able to get rid of mites completely, treat the plant with an acaricidal preparation: Fitoverm, Actellik or Demitan. The last drug, which has an action period of 45-60 days, is especially effective against ticks on lemon. However, Demitan is toxic to fish, so you need to treat lemon as far as possible from the room with the aquarium. In addition, the drug is addictive and can only be used once. For subsequent treatments, which are carried out several times every 7-10 days, you will have to purchase other acaricides.

A little about the pest

There is another way to get rid of spider mites. The method is quite specific, but completely harmless to humans and pets. In addition, it does not involve any labor-intensive spraying, keeping plants under a bag and other physical movements.

The essence of biological control against spider mites is to use their natural enemies - phytoseiulus and amblyseius. These are also ticks, but only predatory ones. You can purchase them at garden centers, flower shops or on the Internet.

Amblyseius and phytoseius are sold in paper sachets. An open package is hung on the affected plant, predatory mites crawl free and eat the pests

As soon as you release phytoseiulus or amblyseius into a pot with a plant, they will immediately begin to look for food. In one day, 1 predator eats 5 spider mites or 10 eggs – not bad! Thus, the more predators you acquire, the faster you will be able to destroy malicious pests. The only thing is that as soon as the predators are left without food, they will die, so storing them until the next spider mite invasion will not work.

It is quite difficult to remove spider mites. After all, it is not always possible to notice a small, 0.2 to 1 mm, brown or greenish-gray insect with the naked eye, not to mention its eggs. But the extent of the damage caused by the pest is quite impressive, since the spider mite feeds on plant cell sap.

Most often, bushes and deciduous trees are susceptible to pest attacks: mites settle on cherries, apple trees, and plums. They often live on coniferous plants. Cucumbers, seedlings, melons, cotton, ornamental plants in greenhouses and open ground can also suffer from massive attacks of plant parasites.

However, before looking for methods to combat a plant parasite, you need to know what conditions are favorable for its spread, as well as at what temperature the spider mite dies. As a place of residence, arthropods select dry and warm places (the most comfortable for them is an air temperature above 27 degrees).

The difficulty of destroying the parasite is that it is very resistant to most chemicals. In addition, it is worth noting that getting rid of a tick is not easy because it quickly adapts to the action of poisons, so you have to alternate them. There is a classification of drugs for spider mites according to groups of active substances. Be sure to pay attention to the toxicity class, as the first group is very dangerous for humans and animals.

This product belongs to organophosphorus compounds, which easily dissolve in water, forming a stable emulsion. When figuring out how to remove spider mites using Karbofos, it is worth indicating the following important information:

1. This is a contact action drug and it only works when it comes into contact with an arthropod, that is, the “hidden” parasites will continue to act.
2. Protects only those parts of the plant that it touches.
3. With its help you can get rid of several types of insects and larvae at the same time. With frequent use, Karbofos is addictive.
4. The presented drug has a short-term effect and is destroyed by exposure to the sun, air and water.
5. When figuring out how to get rid of spider mites using Karbofos, it is important to point out that spraying is often used until the leaves and stems are completely wetted. The dosage is calculated depending on the degree of damage and the type of plant.

This is a very popular product characterized by the following properties:

1. Has a high rate of distribution of the drug. During the first hour after application, it already penetrates into tissue by 16%.
2. "Aktara" against spider mites can be applied to the soil and onto the plant. Duration of action – up to 28 days. Note resistance to heat and drought.
3. The product is highly soluble in water, but at the same time has a high level of resistance to rinsing.
4. If you are interested in how to get rid of spider mites, it is important to know that for spraying you need to take warm water, given that 5 liters should contain 4 g. You can only use a freshly prepared solution. To apply Aktara to the soil, you need to use 1 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. In case of severe infection, both treatment options are combined.

The presented drug helps get rid of more than 60 types of pests. “Iskra Double Effect” can be used for processing flower, berry, vegetable and fruit crops. Note that not all anti-spider mite remedies include a special potassium supplement, which helps the plant quickly restore damaged parts, but this drug does have it. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve 1 tablet in 10 liters of water.

This drug can be used both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions, but it is not suitable for home use. The duration of the protective effect is 15 days. If spider mites are present, the plant can be treated with Anti-Mite, which acts quickly and can be used in hot weather. To understand how to quickly get rid of spider mites, it is important to consider the rules:

1. To dilute the product, take 10 ml per 10 liters of water. Be sure to mix everything thoroughly.
2. Spraying should only be done with freshly prepared solution early in the morning or in the evening, when there is no strong wind.

As a biological weapon against spider mites, it is necessary to use its natural enemies. Amblyseius and phytoseiulus are also essentially pests, but they only feed on their own kind. This method does not require time to prepare a solution or tincture, and is absolutely harmless. It can be used for home flowers.

We suggest you read: How to correctly position a greenhouse according to the cardinal directions

From now on they will do everything themselves. By eating the “bad” ticks, the “good” ones feed. Eggs are also destroyed. After the last spider mite is destroyed, the predators will die of starvation. They will not harm family or pets. The more predators are launched, the faster the flower will clear.

1. Soil treatment for plants. Before planting/transplanting flowers into newly acquired soil, it should be treated - fried in the oven or baked in the microwave. Do the same with other components - sand, pebbles for drainage, etc. But we are not fans of “cooking” beneficial soil microbes, so we most often use water procedures.
2. Periodic “shower” for plants. These procedures will reduce the likelihood of ticks appearing, since they do not like moisture. Once a week, you can take the plants to the bathroom and simply wash all the leaves with it under streams of lukewarm water ~30-40°C.
3. Newly acquired plants, or taken from friends and relatives, should not just be immediately placed on the windowsill. They should first be taken to the bathroom and rinsed thoroughly with warm water, then treated with a natural acaricide (based on pyrethrum). Then place the washed plants in plastic bags and keep them like that for two to three days. It is recommended to repeat this procedure again after some time.