I love to see my plants green and healthy. And I believe many of you do too. It is so frustrating when one day your plant looks amazing and the next day it looks almost dead because of spider mites.
Spider Mites on Plants Treatement
Do you want to get rid of those tiny little spider mites and make your plant look alive again?
There are few things you can do to permanently get rid of spider mites once and for all. However, to achieve that, you firstly need to know how to spot, prevent, and protect the plants from any possible future interaction with the spider mites.
How to Spot Spider Mites
Spider mites are very tiny. In its early infestation stages; before they make the silky webbing, you can identify them by noticing really small white dots on the leaves. Or, you can spot them by touching the leaf with your hands. If you could feel that the surface of the leaf isn’t smooth and there is a dusty kind of texture to it, then you have spider mites for sure.
Once the infestation spreads a little bit more, you can spot them from the web they produce on the leaves. ,
If you couldn’t spot any spider mites on your plants and you have doubts that they are on there, you can be a little tricky and use a flashlight where the reflection of their tiny shadow would be easier to notice.
How to Prevent Spider Mites on Indoor and Outdoor plants
- One of the very earliest things you need to always be aware of when you purchase a new plant is to quarantine it in isolation for at least 5 days. Keep all of your other plants away from it so to make sure that no pests will travel to them.
- Make sure to keep your plants in a humid place, or rather a warm place of 25°c. That is because spider mites hate humidity and cool weather. They love it hot and dry.
- Even if you dont have any spider mites on your plants, I would totally recomment to sprey neem oil on all of your plants at least twice a month. Neem oil is great for preventation. It does not work well as a treatment.
- Keep your plant leaves always clean. You can grab a damp towel and wipe your leaves from the front and back.
- Make sure to follow your plant’s watering schedule. We know how the spider mites love to suck on the sugar and water of the leaves.
- Peperment oil has been also proven to prevent spider mites as well as rosemary oil. Rosemary can be used as a repellent and as a killer according to a 2017 study.
How to Treat Spider Mites on Plants
Now that you’re sure that you have spider mites and they were spread greatly over your plants, you can use treatments without chemicals (natural treatments, home treatments,) or use chemical treatments.
However, if the infestation is heavy and has spread with great amounts to the point where all of the plants are covered with the webbing, Throw the plant away. You would only waste your time and energy, and risk the other plants getting infected as well.
Get Rid of Spider Mites Naturaly
- Some insects can be really beneficial to keep spider mites under control such as predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) , lacewings, thrips, and ladybugs. All these insects feed on spider mites. So you might want to consider to not use pesticide as often. However, these insects would not be as benefitial if you want to treat a fruit tree.
Some of these insects mentioned above and more are actually available online for purchase. - Essential oils such as chamomile, coriander, spearmint, and rosemary. All you have to do is to fill in a spray bottle with water and a couple drops of an essential oil of your choice, mix it well and spray the plant fairly, front and back. After that, use a dry towel and some paper tissue to wipe the leaves. This will kill the spider mites and give a shiny nice look to the leaves. So it is a win, right?
- Pressured water can also help. It does not give the best results, but it help! Use a pressure water bottle and spray all of your plants very well. Make sure to use this method several times per week to get positive results.
Get Rid of Spider Mites with Home Remedies
- Rubbing alchol mixed with water helps a lot with killing and stirlysing the plants. This method is the most common one.
Pour a cup of rubbing alchol with 1 liter of water (35oz.) Mix the solution well and spray your plants. Make sure that the solution touches all of it. Once you’re done, wipe it with paper towel to remove all the dead pests. - Dish soap works amazingly as well. All you need is few drops of dish soap mixed with water. Put the solution in a spray bottle and pray all of the plant. After you finish, wipe the plant with paper towel.
You can also add some rubbing alchol to the solution for better results.
Get Rid of Spider Mites with Chemicals
There are some acaricides that can be used for plants but are dangerous to use for outdoor plants. Such products with the active ingredient abamectin are not generally used for house plants. Such products are used for agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
- Insecticidal soap
- Miticide Sprays such as neem oil, pyrethrins, azadirachtin, dormant, and horticultural oil.
For Chemical use, you should be careful spraying. Make sure to use the right recommended doses and wear gloves.
