What's the most effective organic way of dealing with a spider mite infestation?

Question

Have tried homemade soap sprays, garlic and pepper spray (which amazingly almost killed some of my plants) to no effect. Can't seem to find a supplier of beneficial insects near me. Help!

Answer 1

I just don't know how much luck you are going to have going the organic route here. It's one thing if you are dealing with a few spider mites on a small plant, but if we are talking about an infestation that's a little different. First, you have an insect that usually requires repeated applications with a chemical spray - so I imagine it's going to be pretty hard to go with just organics. I don't know if a Lime/Oil & Sulfur spray is out of your comfort zone but at this time of year that would be the best application. It truly does cling to the plant and smother anything out. Unlike neem oil which is basically a preventitive fungicide, this will actually leave a barrier on your plant through the winter months. Also if you have a plant of decent size - The Rose Rx 3 in One and the Safer only come in ready to use sprays - not concentrates so if you have a plant of decent size you would be spending a lot of money on buying multiple bottles. Not to mention that you would need to make repeated applications of each.

Answer 2

First you are able to bathe them with a fairly lively spray to knock down the mite inhabitants. this may help the plant life by technique of lessening their lack of large juices. practice a sprig with a teaspoon of authentic cleansing soap alongside with Dr. Bronner's peppermint or eucalyptus liquid cleansing soap in holding with gallon of water, or spray with safer's horticultural cleansing soap to help dislodge and suffocate the pests. Mites are discovered on the bottom of the leaves and could be sprayed there. If the plant life are small or basic to attend to it will be a lot less complicated to dip them in the soapy water. Spraying can eliminate maximum yet no longer each and every of the mites, and it doesn't eliminate the eggs. if its undesirable there's a product called avid which will do the job,

Answer 3

If you want to go with no poison try Neem Oil (marketed by Bonide as Rose 3in 1 Rx), or horticultural oil. They work by coating the insect with oil and they suffocate. Since they have no poison you have to hit the mites so spray the bottoms (90% of them are on the bottom of the leaves) and tops thoroughly.

Or you can get a very good insecticide houseplant spray made from chrysanthemum flowers. One I like is called Shultz Houseplant Insect Killer. This one is safe for indoor use and it lasts ablut 4 weeks so it will kill the mites for that period, even if you don't hit them all.

Answer 4

Safer's soap; it's better than homemade because it has refined soap in it that's made for that purpose. Also, since spiders prefer dry conditions, periodically spray the foliage of plants with the hose, and they will tend not to congregate on those plants.

Answer 5

Try putting the plant under a shower (cold water is fine) it will wash them off, you can actually see the little webs when you spray it with water. Good Luck hope it helps.

Answer 6

Try sulfur, once a week for three weeks, then return to soaps and neem oil. If you apply sulfur don´t spray any oil based product at least for four days.

Answer 7

4 cups wheat flour 1/2 cup buttermilk(not fat free 5 gal water...in a bucket,make a slurry of the flour,buttermilk, and two cups of water.then add the rest of the water.apply to both sides of mite-infested leaves with a handheld mist sprayer

Answer 8

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Answer 9

try rubbing alchohol,in a spray bottle,i use it to kill mites and all kinds of fungus on orchids