Did you know that your plants are actually susceptible to pests called spider mites? You might think of pests called mites when it comes to pets, but you probably don’t think about a spider mite infestation when it comes to your plants because it’s just not one of the more common things that you come across.
However, if your plants do get spider mites, you want to make sure you treat them properly and quickly so you aren’t going to lose that plant and all of your others as well. Here are some remedies you can apply to save the lives of your plants.
Removal
You have a spider mite problem. The first thing you need to do is go through your plants and find the worst leaves either in the bottom of the pot or on the plant. If some of the leaves look like they’re really bad you want to get rid of them because they could spread to other plants. If you don’t know that you can save a plant because it looks really bad just make sure you get it away from other plants right away. If you’re going to keep it sure to keep tools away from the plant itself and not use the same tools from one plant to the next as this can transfer some of the spider mites if you aren’t careful.
Wash Your Plants
Washing plants with tepid water and mild dish soap can help you keep them clean and get rid of spider mites as well. You want about 3 tablespoons of soap to a gallon of water so you aren’t getting too much soap and bubbles. All you need to do is wipe down the leaves with the mixture on a sponge or spray it from a bottle. You can do this every six days if you notice that the plants are still infested. Just be careful to check for sensitivity in your plants because of the insecticidal soap.
Miticides
You can find miticides pretty much anywhere that sells gardening supplies, insecticide supplies or pesticides. Make sure what you pick up is safe for your plants as not all pesticides are created equally.
These types are going to get rid of spider mites but aren’t going to hurt your plant and they aren’t going to hurt other insects either, so if you have a problem with something other than mites you’ll want to look somewhere else. There are plenty of different from pyrethrum to cinnamite, and some essential oils such as neem oil, tea tree oil and even rosemary oil.
Herbal Tea
There are several types of herbal tea that you can make yourself which will help get rid of spider mites. One of the best is made with a single tablespoon of ground cinnamon and cloves to two tablespoons of Italian seasoning.
You then need about a quart of water which should be boiled before adding the other ingredients. You want to then cool the water entirely, strain it and add just a small amount of dish soap before putting the mixture into a spray bottle. You can spray the bottom of the leaves of an infected plant every three days and repeat it for two weeks.
Rubbing Alcohol
All it takes is a little bit of isopropyl rubbing alcohol to get rid of spider mites. Use a little bit on a piece of cloth and rub it on the underside of the leaves of any infested plant.
It will start to kill spider mites right away, but be careful not to use it too much as it can also dry out the leaves.
Liquid Sulfur
Sulfur can be dangerous for your family, which is why it’s important to use the liquid and not the powdered. You definitely don’t want anyone to inhale it.
With the liquid, you spray a little bit on the leaves, but make sure not to use it if the temperature is too high or if you’ve recently used any kind of oil on your plants as it will cause them to burn.
Organic Salts
There are plenty of different organic salts like fatty acids or potassium salts which will help you get rid of the mites. You want to use them somewhere around the later afternoon as there will be more moisture at this time.
You can spray the plants with a little bit of water as well, which will help to increase the effectiveness of the organic salts when you’re using them.
Hose it Down
You can spray off your plants with a hose to sort of power wash the insects away, but this could be only a temporary solution. It also only works if your plants are outdoors or able to be taken outdoors.
Still, you can easily spray off the bottom of the leaves without having to get too close or having to worry about transferring mites from one plant to the next.
Garlic Spray
All you need is a clove of garlic and about 2 cups of water mixed together and then left in a covered container to ferment for 24 hours.
When you’re done, strain and add another 12 cups of water before spraying it on your plants leaves. This solution repels and can even kill mites in contact.
Ideal Soap
For an ideal pest control soap, you want about 1 teaspoon of dish soap and about 4 cups of water. Make sure to fully dissolve the soap and then mix them into a spray bottle.
You want to spray it directly onto the areas that are infested with spider mites as it won’t help anything unless it actually touches the mites. You also want to make sure that the plants you use it on are not water-stressed or in a hot climate.
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Food grade DE works efficiently against many crawling insects such as bed bugs, spiders, cockroaches, dust mites, ear mites and even spider mites. Just sprinkle some diatomaceous earth on your plants and see different kinds of garden pests flee or die. Consider buying Food grade DE for a quick and effective spider mite control.
A spider mite can cause a whole lot of damage to your plants, but if you know what you’re doing you’ll be able to help them faster than you think. The best thing of all is making sure that you know how to make a home remedy without having to just give up on your plants right off the bat. That means you’re going to have no problem saving some money and making sure your plants are back to normal in no time at all. It may take a little effort on your part, but you can get there.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints. viagra price Continuous long-term use is not recommended unless advised by your doctor.