Spider Mite Control: Exterminate the Mites Without Harming Plants

There are a number of spider mite control techniques gardeners and crop growers can use. Some may be effective but can harm plants. There are several underlying factors of the efficiency of such methods – spider mite population; plant and health resistance, the growing environment, and others. But whatever strategy you use, the important things is that you wouldn’t harm your plants. Below are some effective and safe methods of killing spider mites.

1. Use predatory mites and insects.

These are preferred by most growers as they control the population of spider mites by natural means. Such predatory or beneficial mites and insects naturally eat the harmful spider mites without hurting plants. This eliminates the need for using insecticides and pesticides.

2. Spray down the leaves with water.

This is the simplest strategy for getting rid of spider mites. Spraying water on the undersides of the leaves will dislodge the mites. But you can’t get rid of all the mites, by this process alone, especially when the population is high. But you can make this process more effective by using other ingredients such as capsaicin which irritates spider mites. You can even make this even more effective by using stronger but organic substances like garlic extract, alcohol, soap, cinnamon oil, and lemon juice. After spraying with water mixed with one of the above-mentioned ingredients, wash the leaves after a couple of minutes. This is to avoid harming your plants.

3. Drown the spider mites.

TIP! Pick your plants with an eye to maximize the yield you can get. In most circumstances, a cold-tolerant or disease-resistant hybrid will have a higher yield when compared to a more traditional variety.

Another strategy to get rid of spider mites is by drowning them. To do so, get a bucket of water and submerge your small potted plant in. You will notice that bubbles are forming. Observe and when the bubbles are gone, wait for about 10 minutes and pull off your plant from the water. This strategy will drown the spider mites. However, this may not be suitable for large potted plants or those growing on the ground.

4. Freeze the spider mites.

Carbon dioxide fumigation can be considered an extreme method of killing spider mites. This is a very effective process as mites cannot live without oxygen. On the other hand, it is very good for plants as they love carbon dioxide. Placing your infested plants in a sealed environment with carbon dioxide will definitely kill the mites. But, make sure you properly regulate carbon dioxide content and ventilation as CO2 can be damaging to people.

5. Use other plants as spider mite control measure.

There are certain plants that can naturally repel the mites, such as chili, garlic, onions, coriander, cloves, cilantro, and lavender. You could plant these near the plants you want to protect, or simply buy sprays based on these plants.

Visit the website of CX Hydroponics to get safe and effective spider mite control products, http://www.cxhydroponics.co.uk.