Spider mite is a disaster. Use a forgotten trick to get rid of them

Spider mites are herbivorous mites with an enormous destructive power. Spider mite larvae are spherical in shape, initially translucent with no colour and later green or yellowish to brow – based on the food they consume.

Warning signs

The first signs indicative of a spider mite infestation are clearly visible. These are small white dots about the size of a pinhead, most often appearing along the central vein of leaves. When the first stage turns into the second stage, leaves begin to lose colour and you will notice a cobweb on the underside of leaves. If you do not take an action, cobwebs will cover the entire plant and kill it eventually.

How to fight spider mites

Getting rid of spider mites is not easy. You need to take into account several factors. Infestation often occurs due to an inadequate care. Spider mites thrive in a dry and hot environment. High humidity has a negative effect on their development. For example, spraying water on the underside of the leaves will help you a lot.

Photo: Pixabay

Grandma’s trick

To make spraying more effective add a laundry soap. This is a trick that our grandmothers used to fight spider mites. Another option is to use natural essential oils made from pelargoniums for example. To protect your greenhouse you should make some improvements. A good idea is to install insect screens in all ventilation holes.If the infestation is too big you need to remove old leaves at the bottom of plants.

Try to clean your garden from weeds as much as possible. Proper fertilization is also important. Both weed removal and fertilization are very effective preventive measures. When dealing with spider mites you need to be very careful when touching plants. Make sure mites do not stick to your clothes, shoes or work tools as you may spread them around unintentionally.

Source: https://www.pasti.cz/blog/jak-se-zbavit-svilusek/

Preview photo: Gilles San Martin: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tetranychus_urticae_with_silk_threads.jpg