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The most frustrating aspect of growing food or medicinal plants is dealing with a variety of pests. Some insects can cause significant damage to your crops, which can cost you valuable time and money. One of the most annoying of these pests is the spider mite.
These small pests belong to the arachnid family and are extremely small (1/60 to 1/25 inches), so they’re quite difficult to spot. It’s important to keep a lookout for spider mites on leaves and stems as they can hinder growth and spread plant diseases. To assist you, we’ve provided a guide on common methods growers use to treat spider mites, what causes them, how to spot them, and how to get rid of them for good!
Common Methods Growers Use To Treat Spider Mite Infestations
There are a variety of methods growers use to get rid of spider mites if they don’t have an insecticide on hand or if they’ve run out of their usual solutions. Here are some ways growers manage spider mites.
Pure Neem Oil
One of the most common methods growers use to treat spider mites is neem oil, which is a substance that comes from the neem tree. It can kill a variety of pests and mites, but it does have some downsides, like blockage of the stomata on your plants. Neem oil can also be harmful to plants because it causes foliage burns when applied at the wrong time of day. That’s why it’s best to use the alternatives to neem oil that we’ll discuss throughout this post.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Some growers use hydrogen peroxide, as it can also be used to sterilize soil and treat fungal infections on crops. It has powerful oxidizing properties and can release free radicals designed to damage the cellular membranes of spider mites. However, this can cause damage like leaf burn if used too often.
Rubbing Alcohol
Another common method growers use to kill spider mites is a solution of rubbing alcohol, as it’s quite effective against soft-bodied pests. This substance contains isopropyl alcohol, but at a much lower concentration. Growers choose products that are around or below 70% alcohol.
It should be noted that some plants, especially those with waxy or fuzzy leaf surfaces, may be sensitive to rubbing alcohol.
Soap Solutions
To kill or smother spider mites, growers sometimes mix a solution of dish soap and water to spray on crops. There are also different types of insecticidal soaps made from fatty acids from plants or animal fat. When paired with an alkali component, the potassium salts of fatty acids penetrate the insects’ cuticles and cause cell collapse.
Eco-Friendly Pesticides
Lastly, the best way you can treat spider mite infestations is by using an eco-friendly product like Protection Plus. Managing spider mites requires a solution that is safe, reliable, and compliant with strict agricultural testing. Protection Plus is formulated without harmful chemicals that could cause failed lab results, which makes it ideal for all growers, particularly with closely-regulated crops like cannabis. Continuously tested for purity, this eco-friendly spray kills pests effectively while supporting sustainable Integrated Pest Management.
How to Spot Spider Mites
Since spider mites are extremely tiny, they are almost invisible in their early stages of infestation. Furthermore, there are a variety of species, so it’s important to know what most of them look like so you can identify them easily. Spider mites come in a variety of colors, like yellow, red, and brown. However, the most common type is the spruce or two-spotted spider mite.
Look for these tell-tale signs around your plants of a spider mite infestation:
- Spider mites often look like small grains of sand on the underside of leaves
- Look for fine webbing between plants
- You may notice tiny moving dots on leaves
- Dusty appearance on crops
You may be able to see them more clearly when mite populations grow. However, if you suspect an infestation, use a magnifying glass to check the underside of your leaves.
Another way you can check for spider mites is by placing a white piece of paper underneath a leaf and then tapping the leaf gently. If you have an infestation, the mites will fall onto the piece of paper.
What Causes Spider Mites?
There are certain conditions and plants that spider mites are attracted to. For example, one of the most common cannabis pests is the spider mite because the plant is grown in conditions that are ideal for them to thrive in. Other crops susceptible to spider mite infestations are:
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Salvia
- Beans
- Tomatoes
- Roses
- Azaleas
In greenhouse conditions, spider mites can become more of a problem in environments with higher temperatures of 80°F and humidity levels that are below 50%. If they have warmer conditions, the infestation can spread within a week.
What’s more, if you’re growing crops indoors, there may not be natural beneficial insects like lacewings or ladybugs to feed on the spider mites. As a result, the mites will grow and spread if you don’t attend to the infestation.
The Damage Spider Mites Cause and Why They’re So Problematic
The life cycle of a spider mite is only three to four weeks. But in that time, each female can lay up to 100 eggs, and they can hatch in five to 20 days, so infestations can spread rapidly. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will start feeding on plants almost immediately. They do this by piercing leaves and sucking out their juices. Some mites may even inject the plants with toxins, which causes discoloration.
With a spider mite infestation, you may experience:
- Dried out leaves
- Pale yellow or white spotting
- Premature drop off
- Stunted plant growth
- Curling leaves
- Bud blasting
The above-mentioned issues are exactly why it’s important to tackle and prevent spider mite damage using methods that actually work. Without the right solutions, you could experience a significant loss of crops.
How to Treat Spider Mites
Using the right spider mite insecticide is the first step to managing these pests. Protection Plus is one of the best eco-friendly solutions to keep pests like spider mites under control when using the product as recommended. With Protection Plus spray, you can kill up to 89% of spider mites with your first application.
The solution gives growers a fast-acting, oil-free solution for managing spider mites and other soft-bodied insects. Unlike sprays that leave harmful residues, this product can kill mites without clogging pores or yellowing leaves when applied correctly.
To use Protection Plus, start by measuring out the concentrate accurately, then dilute the concentrate in water, shake well, and apply evenly with an airless sprayer. Use a sprayer with 60 microns or less. For large-scale applications, Protection Plus can be applied to crops using cold foggers or electrostatic sprayers. This will ensure even coverage without over-saturating your crops.
Tips on How to Stop Spider Mites from Coming Back
After treating your plants, there is still a chance that spider mites may return. To prevent these annoying pests from becoming a future problem, follow these easy steps:
- Check your plants regularly: Always check the undersides of your crops or new plants for spider mites or any infestations so you can kill them off before they become a bigger problem.
- Increase humidity every so often: Since spider mites dislike high humidity levels, you can increase it slightly every once in a while if you’re growing hydroponics or have a greenhouse setup.
- Keep your crops hydrated: Spider mites are notorious for thriving on plants with little moisture or in dry conditions. Therefore, you should keep your crops hydrated with an irrigation system.
- Periodically hose down plants: To prevent spider mites from returning, you can spray plants with hard blasts using a hose, as water prevents spider mites from settling on leaves. If you have a greenhouse or hydroponic setup, you can mist your plants regularly to stop spider mites from returning.
- Spray your crops with treatments: Protection Plus is an ideal alternative to neem oil because it doesn’t leave a residue when you use it correctly. Additionally, it doesn’t lead to insect resistance due to its mode of action. This means you can use the product regularly to prevent spider mite infestations from returning. It can also be used on a wide range of plants, like cannabis and food crops.
Final Thoughts – Protection Plus, Your Solution to Controlling Spider Mite Outbreaks
When it comes to fighting spider mites, growers often turn to hydrogen peroxide or neem oil, but these options aren’t always beneficial because they can cause soil degradation or water contamination. Protection Plus gives you a smarter alternative that you can use once a week.
This oil-free, citric acid-based formula kills pests, prevents biofilm buildup on roots, and leaves no harmful residue when used according to the instructions. Safe for food crops, aquatic environments, and use throughout the growing cycle, it delivers the industry’s highest first-application kill rates. Don’t let spider mites compromise your harvest. Get Protection Plus today and protect your crops with confidence.