Mites (spider mites) are small pests that suck plant sap that are quite difficult to eradicate. The mites attach themselves to the underside of plant leaves, sucking nutrients from the leaves, and sometimes making the leaves dry and die. After identifying the attack on the plant, the mite can be eradicated using natural means, provided you continue to take good care of the plant.
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Part 1 of 3: Identifying Mites
Step 1. Identify any plants that attract mites
Mites are attracted to many plants, both indoor and outdoor. Some of the plants that mites like include: strawberries, melons, beans, eggplant, tomatoes, pea pods, ornamental flowers, and trees.
Step 2. Recognize the signs
When you check for the presence of mites, you will be able to identify the plants that have been attacked by the shape of the plant. The mites suck the sap from the plant, causing the leaves to become damaged. Some signs of mite infestation that can be seen with the naked eye include:
- Yellow, white, or brown spots on the leaves
- Tiny white or red spots on the leaves and can move (these are the mites)
- White weave like cotton that appears on the underside of the leaves.
- Eventually the leaves of the plant will change color, shrivel, and fall.
Step 3. Check for mites
Before starting to treat it, you should get to know the mite more closely, namely its shape and the harm it causes. If you can't see it in the leaves, hold the stem of your plant against the white paper and gently shake it. Mites will fall on the paper.
- Mites are so small that you can hardly see them. If you use a magnifying glass, you will be able to see its tiny body at 8 feet, and has a yellow, brown, or green color.
- Mites are most common in hot, dry, and dusty weather. This pest also often inhabits places where there are no mite predators.
Part 2 of 3: Dealing with Mites
Step 1. Know the benefits of organic mite removal
If you use chemical pesticides, you will often kill mite-eating insects too, making it easier for these pests to grow and thrive on your plants. Mites are also known to develop rapid resistance to some pesticides. So, the best way to control mites is natural methods.
The female mite can lay up to 300 eggs continuously for several weeks. If some of these eggs are not successfully killed with pesticides, the infestation of the mites can get worse
Step 2. Isolate the plant immediately
Before taking any steps to get rid of the mites, move the infected plant to an area where there are no other plants. This can prevent the mites from spreading and harming other plants.
Step 3. Prune your plants
Once the plant has been moved to an isolated location, start pruning the plant by removing stems, leaves, or other parts that are infested with mites and throwing them in the trash. Make sure you've also cleaned all the white webbing that the mites make. Unfortunately, if the mite infestation is severe, you may have to trim the entire plant to prevent the mites from spreading to other plants.
Throw the leaves straight into the trash bag to prevent the mites from spreading. If you throw them in the compost pile, the mites will move to other plants
Step 4. Spray your plants with water
Spray with plenty of water using a high pressure water hose. This can release the mites from the plant and kill some of them thereby reducing the number of mites on your plant. If you are working with indoor plants, use a damp sponge.
This treatment may need to be repeated periodically so that you can get rid of the mites effectively
Step 5. Bring in the mite's natural predators
This is a great method because bringing in natural predators to live on your plants will reduce the mite population to a minimum, or even eliminate them completely. Plus, you don't have to worry about mites attacking your plants. These predators can be found at farm or gardening supply stores.
- Some of the best mite predators include ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory mites.
- The best time to release predators is when the number of mites is not so great. Also make sure that the predators you use are suitable for the plants that will be inhabited and suitable for the weather when you use them.
Step 6. Make a soap spray
Soap spray is a natural and commonly used way to kill mites. Mix two tablespoons of mild soap with 1 to 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and 3.8 liters of water. Spray the plant thoroughly, and repeat every four to seven days until the mites are gone.
- It's a good idea to use a mild soap, such as baby shampoo, as harsher types of soap, such as dish soap, can damage plants. However, you can use a strong soap if you have tested it on a small part of the plant first. Make sure the mixture you use doesn't burn the leaves.
- Cooking oil can suffocate insects and help the solution to stick to the leaves.
- Be careful not to spray the solution on the plants if there are beneficial insects there. This action can harm the insect. Do not spray the solution when the sun is directly shining on the leaves as the solution can dry out.
Step 7. Use a hot spray
This solution is often used by people to control mites and other pests. Mix a teaspoon of red pepper or hot sauce with a quart of warm water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Leave the solution overnight, then strain through a fine sieve. Spray on the underside of the leaves keeping your face away from the spray, and shake the solution frequently to prevent the ingredients from settling.
- Test the solution on a small part of the plant first to make sure that the solution is not harmful to the leaves.
- Add the crushed garlic and onion to make a stronger solution.
Step 8. Spray your plants with an oil solution
Many essential oils can be used to prevent and kill mites. This solution is very useful because it does not harm the plant and has natural properties that can cause a reaction in mites, often even killing them. Fill a one liter bottle with half a bottle of warm water and add about 10 to 20 ml of essential oil. Some of the oils that can be used include:
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- neem oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Lemon oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Peppermint Oil
- rosemary oil
- chrysanthemum oil
- Thyme oil
- If you are using a mild-smelling oil, increase the amount of oil, while for a strong-smelling oil, reduce the oil.
- Never pour essential oils directly on plants without diluting them first because they can damage the plants.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Future Mite Invasions
Step 1. Always meet your plant's nutritional needs
Plants that are under stress are more susceptible to mites. Make sure your plants are watered enough, have healthy soil, and get optimal sunlight.
Step 2. Clean your plants
Clean the leaves and branches of the plant periodically to prevent mites. In dry and dusty areas, mites are thirstier and can do more damage to plants if you provide them with such an environment.
Step 3. Examine the plant for mite eggs
You can't get rid of mites completely by getting rid of them using one treatment. When the weather is warm, the mites will continue to lay eggs so management and repeated eradication is vital so that the population is minimal or non-existent. Frequently spray your plant with water and trim the leaves if you see mite eggs (small white spots on the underside of the leaves).
Placing the plant in a well-ventilated area may also help
Warning
- Only use toxic materials or pesticides if the mite population is absolutely uncontrollable and cannot be controlled by organic methods.
- When using a spray, make sure the material you are spraying is not harmful to plants. Different types of plants will react differently to the materials used. So test a small section of the plant first and try to remove as many mites as possible by pruning and watering.
