Your houseplants are unique, and they should be safeguarded from pests of all types. You give it the appropriate amount of water and take excellent care of it, but despite your efforts, spider mites continue to appear on it and refuse to go away. So, how do you get these pests out of your houseplants?
In this article, we will provide an answer to that question and discuss the steps you can take to get rid of spider mites, as well as the steps you can take to ensure that your plant recovers quickly and does not get overly dry.
We’ll cover the following subjects in this guide:
- What exactly are spider mites?
- What are some options for getting rid of spider mites?
- Recovery
Table of Contents
What exactly are spider mites?
Spider mites are tiny spider-like insects that live on the undersides of your plants’ leaves. They can harm your plants by making holes in the leaves of the plant and feeding on the plant’s tissue at the same time.
This might lead to the plants gradually drying up as the spider mites consume the moisture that is present in the plant. Because spider mites graze on such a diverse range of plant species, it is quite possible that some of the plants in your garden are on their menu.
What are some options for getting rid of spider mites?
There are various methods for eliminating spider mites. Some are simpler to treat than others, but they all require several treatments. Before doing anything further, you should isolate the diseased plant to prevent spider mites from spreading to your other plants. After you have completed this step, there are a few easy things you can do to assist in getting rid of the spider mites, which are as follows:
- Fill a spray bottle halfway with water and household soap.
- Use neem oil.
- Use predatory insects to devour the spider mites.
Half-fill a spray bottle with water and household soap.
The simplest approach is to purchase a spray bottle that you also use to sprinkle your plants with liquid soap. When you spray this combination on your plant, it will form a soapy film on the leaves, which will drown the spider mites.
After allowing it to rest for a few minutes, you may use a paper towel or a microfiber towel to clean each and every leaf. You will accomplish both the removal of the soap from the plant as well as the elimination of any spider mites that may still be present on the leaves if you proceed in this manner.
This is not a one-time fix, and you might need to do it again and again for a few weeks. It is recommended that you give the plant a week to recover before continuing to care for it in this manner for the next time.
Use neem oil.
Neem oil is a vegetable oil that is widely available in supermarkets. It’s an oil made by pressing fruits and seeds. In contrast to the solution made of soap and water, this does not cause the spider mites to drown.
Neem oil can be applied to the leaves and stems of an affected plant in order to deter spider mites from inhabiting the plant in the first place. Because of this, the spider mites will be exposed to a hostile environment, and they will begin to move away from the plant.
This method, much like the one using soap and water, is not a one-time fix but rather one that must be continued until all spider mites have been eliminated. It is recommended that you carry out this procedure once every few days until you discover that the spider mites have disappeared.
Use predator insects to eat the spider mites.
Insects themselves might be used as a last resort, but this strategy is considered to be rather riskier. It is ideal to employ mites from the family Phytoseiulus since these mites are predators on spider mites and will consume quite a number of the spider mites and quite a few of their eggs each day. It is a rather efficient method for getting rid of spider mites without requiring you to put in too much effort on your own part.
You are, however, bringing new insects to your plants. Although it may not be the most pleasant experience, this technique is often used to protect plants in greenhouses from many kinds of pests.
If the first two options don’t work or if you don’t want to do it yourself, this might be a wonderful option.
Recovery
Your houseplant will be frail from fighting the insects after the spider mites have been removed. Now is the moment to provide it with the attention it requires and assist it in recovering in a slow but steady manner. It is a good idea to give your plant a small bit of fertilizer if it is still in the growing season. This will allow the plant to restore all of the nutrients it lost while the pest was around. Be careful to provide the plant with the appropriate amount of water and light, even if it is in its dormant phase.
Conclusion
Spider mites may be a terrifying sight to behold, not to mention a challenging nuisance to eliminate. However, there are a few different approaches to eliminating spider mites, some of which include using a soap and water solution in a spray bottle, using neem oil, and allowing predatory insects to take care of the problem.
If you don’t mind putting in the effort to take care of your houseplants, your best bet is to begin by using a solution made of soap and water or neem oil, and then turn to predatory insects only as a last option. Start with the soap and water solution. The predatory insects are a fantastic option to go with, and they will get rid of the spider mites in a short amount of time, which is ideal if you want to be hands-off and have it dealt with.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my article. I really hope that this information is of use to you in maintaining the health and beauty of your plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are spider mites?
Spider mites are very small insects that have the appearance of spiders and like to live on the underside of the leaves of your plants. They can harm your plants by making holes in the leaves of the plant and feeding on the plant’s tissue at the same time.
What can you do to get rid of spider mites?
- Half-fill a spray bottle with water and household soap.
- Use neem oil.
- Use insects that feed on spider mites.
How do spider mites damage a plant?
Spider mites are resilient parasites that often inhabit the undersides of the leaves of the plants they infest. It does this in order to gain access to the moisture that is contained within the leaves. This results in your plant becoming dried out, which is the damage that it does to your plants.
Photo by Flash Dantz on Unsplash
