Spider Mites In My Garden

[PrideKidd]

Hello everyone, I have a question. I have never had much troubles growing indoor plants and veggies. While I was away I had a family member take care of my plants and such. I came home to a very unhappy garden and thus was very disappointed. I did not know what was going on with it so I googled what I saw. It turns out my garden come down with a case of Spider Mites. Eww Does anyone know why this happened? I was wondering what everyone did to prevent this from reoccurring.

Any suggestions?

 

[ChanellG]

Well, you can try using a homemade spray with dish soap and oil, but if you have them over a very large area you may have to take more drastic measures. I use soapy water effectively for all kinds of unwanted bugs, so if you're up to it, this is an economical solution that you can try right away.

As for why, have you purchased any new plants in the past few months? You may have unknowingly brought them home. Certain plants are more susceptible than others are and will almost automatically become infested with them.

 

[PrideKidd]

You know, come to think of it we did get some new plants not too long ago. I never thought about it really. Thanks for the advice about the homemade spray I will definitely have to check that out.

 

[Chuck]

Hello everyone, I have a question. I have never had much troubles growing indoor plants and veggies. While I was away I had a family member take care of my plants and such. I came home to a very unhappy garden and thus was very disappointed. I did not know what was going on with it so I googled what I saw. It turns out my garden come down with a case of Spider Mites. Eww Does anyone know why this happened? I was wondering what everyone did to prevent this from reoccurring.

Any suggestions?

Once you are infected with them it is very difficult to eliminate them and they will come back year after year. They have a rather complex reproduction cycle and without going into the entire thing I will say that the best method to deal with them is to not let them get started as they reproduce exponentially every 2 - 4 days. Right now the eggs are in the soil. As soon as your soil thaws and the snow melts you can use one or both of the following preferably both: Beneficial nematodes and Spinosad as a soil drench. When your plants are in and before hot weather arrives start a spray regime. One week use Spinosad and the next use Neem. Coat both sides of the leaves. Be aggressive and don't let them get a toe hold. Hopefully you will stop them. Spraying them once you have them is useless. You will kill the active ones but that is all. They will be back in 2 or 3 days just as thick as ever. Research their life cycle for a better understanding.

 

[ACSAPA]

Once you are infected with them it is very difficult to eliminate them and they will come back year after year. They have a rather complex reproduction cycle without going into the entire thing I will say that the best method to deal with them is to not let them get started as they reproduce exponentially every 2 - 4 days. Right now the eggs are in the soil. As soon as your soil thaws and the snow melts you can use one or both of the following preferably both: Beneficial nematodes and Spinosad as a soil drench. When your plants are in and before hot weather arrives start a spray regime. One week use Spinosad and the next use Neem. Coat both sides of the leaves. Be aggressive and don't let them get a toe hold. Hopefully you will stop them. Spraying them once you have them is useless. You will kill the active ones but that is all. They will be back in 2 or 3 days just as thick as ever. Research their life cycle for a better understanding.

This is discouraging. I've had my Alocasia Polly for years but the spider mites keep coming back. I might have to just break my attachment to the Alocasia and throw it out. It's a bummer that the mites will never really go away.

 

[ChanellG]

This is discouraging. I've had my Alocasia Polly for years but the spider mites keep coming back. I might have to just break my attachment to the Alocasia and throw it out. It's a bummer that the mites will never really go away.

If I were you I'd try the beneficial nematodes. Isolate the plant when the mites are active and spray it. Once you kill them treat the soil with the nematodes for the eggs.

Also check out these pins:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335848768895/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335849913087/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335848768756/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335848709174/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335848769131/

 

[Pat]

Thank you for the post on the earwigs, I did not know they ate bugs. The pinterest post are full of great information.

 

[ChanellG]

Thank you for the post on the earwigs, I did not know they ate bugs. The pinterest post are full of great information.

You're welcome, @Pat! I hope the information is helpful. If you have a Pinterest account, I have a board about garden pests, Bugs, Bugs, Bugs, where I have compiled information about beneficial bugs as well as how to control/prevent the bad ones.

 

[IcyBC]

Well, you can try using a homemade spray with dish soap and oil, but if you have them over a very large area you may have to take more drastic measures. I use soapy water effectively for all kinds of unwanted bugs, so if you're up to it, this is an economical solution that you can try right away.

As for why, have you purchased any new plants in the past few months? You may have unknowingly brought them home. Certain plants are more susceptible than others are and will almost automatically become infested with them.

Can I use this soapy water to keep Japanese beetles off my plants too? Every summer, I have this problem, and they eat every thing in their path. I had to remove them one by one and it was tedious job! I want to prevent the Japanese beetles this year!

 

[LIcenter]

Can I use this soapy water to keep Japanese beetles off my plants too? Every summer, I have this problem, and they eat every thing in their path. I had to remove them one by one and it was tedious job! I want to prevent the Japanese beetles this year!

Sounds like you have a major grub problem in your yard to have so many Japanese beetles. Here's a little info on how to solve that problem. http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-grub-worms.htm

 

[ChanellG]

Can I use this soapy water to keep Japanese beetles off my plants too? Every summer, I have this problem, and they eat every thing in their path. I had to remove them one by one and it was tedious job! I want to prevent the Japanese beetles this year!

What I have discovered that works for Japanese beetles is that it is best to catch them early in the larval stage, or before the eggs hatch by using beneficial nematodes in spring. After that, I've read that you can knock them into a container of soapy water, plant things to deter them like garlic...

I am actually looking for a four o'clock plant because supposedly they are attracted to it but it kills them!

Here are a few of links:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335849913030/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335850272890/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335850272922/

 

[IcyBC]

What I have discovered that works for Japanese beetles is that it is best to catch them early in the larval stage, or before the eggs hatch by using beneficial nematodes in spring. After that, I've read that you can knock them into a container of soapy water, plant things to deter them like garlic...

I am actually looking for a four o'clock plant because supposedly they are attracted to it but it kills them!

Here are a few of links:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335849913030/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335850272890/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321796335850272922/

Thank you for your advice! You know Japanese beetle are quite pretty looking and frightful at the same time. I actually watched one of them ate the entire black-eyed Susan stalk in a matter of minutes. This is why I want to get rid of them first.

 

[ChanellG]

Thank you for your advice! You know Japanese beetle are quite pretty looking and frightful at the same time. I actually watched one of them ate the entire black-eyed Susan stalk in a matter of minutes. This is why I want to get rid of them first.

Yikes! I think that would traumatize me, lol. All my hard work reduced to a stub in no time flat would be totally disheartening. I am now officially on the hunt for four o'clock seeds. I had a free packet that had been given away at an Earth Day celebration, but I am not sure what happened to them. I hope I didn't give them away...

 

[Ali Gardener]

Aww yes the dreaded spider mites. I use a combination of neem oil and insecticidal soup from Safer Brand (organic gardening products--very important you don't use any harmful chemicals).

 

[Greenhorn]

Often spider mites are due to dusty conditions, While more specific to California than Pennsylvania, all about spider mites. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html