Spider mite on houseplants

On your favorite indoor flower appeared strange white points, which gradually expand and pour into each other, and then the leaves just fall off? Or do white spiders appear in the corners of the leaves, in which brown dots move with careful scrutiny? A spider mite has settled on your plant. How to get rid of spider mite, and what is it dangerous?

Spider mite on indoor plants is a huge danger, because it is very difficult to withdraw, due to the fact that under adverse conditions the female finds shelter in the ground and hibernates until more favorable times. And then comes out of hibernation and begins to multiply actively.

What does a spider mite look like?

A cobweb is an insect of a brown or whitish color, barely discernible to the naked eye, mostly living on the underside of the leaf. A spider mite feeds on cellular juice, practically all plants, piercing its jaws.

The colony of a spider mite reaches up to hundreds of insects. The ideal conditions for the active reproduction of this parasitic insect are 27 C with heat and low air humidity. An adult female, living from 2 to 4 weeks, is able to lay aside 200 eggs that mature within only 3 days. Eggs can be stored in soil, in crevices on a windowsill, on a pot and bark of a plant up to 5 years. Therefore, the fight against a spider mite promises to be hot and have a protracted character.

Signs of the defeat of the plant by a spider mite

The first sign of the appearance of the tick is the white dots, which grow on the entire leaf. As a result, the leaf dries up and falls off. If you do not start the fight, the spider mite on the houseplants will multiply and the plants will soon die. The second, but not mandatory, sign is the appearance of a thin spider web, which entangles, first the leaves, and then the entire plant. The appearance of spider webs on the upper shoots indicates an overgrown and actively breeding pest colony.

Spider mite on indoor plants: fighting types

Remember that the spider mite does not tolerate spraying with water, so plants need to be constantly sprayed with water, and even better with an insecticide solution (Intovir, Carbofox, etc.) and immediately covered with an infected cellophane packet. You can also use "Temik" - a granulated preparation for soil treatment. It is desirable to alternate the drugs in order to avoid getting used to and developing immunity in ticks.

It is necessary to regularly spray all possible secluded places where eggs can be found, with phosphoric and sulfuric preparations for correct destruction of the pest.

If you are afraid to use pesticides, use folk remedies to control the spider mites .

• Take 100 g of garlic and rub, then pour the resulting slurry with a liter of water and leave to stand for a week in a dark place. For spraying the plant, take 10g of infusion per liter of water.

• The root of the dandelion, which can easily be purchased at the pharmacy, is a great help in fighting insects. Take 30 g of crushed root and pour a liter of water. After 3 hours the infusion for spraying is ready.

• For plants that are contraindicated, use the following method: cut the finely garlic and put it on the ground in the pot. Then cover the plant with a plastic bag for 2-3 hours. Instead of garlic, you can use turpentine, poured into a small bowl.

As soon as you notice the first signs that a spider mite appeared on indoor plants, the infected should be immediately isolated from the rest, because the mite actively moves to other flowers. The favorite delicacy of the tick are: palm, balsam, rose and many others. Be vigilant, because treating one plant is much easier than the entire collection.