Skip to main content

Spider Mites!

Spider Mites, how i loathe thee. If yo do know what spider mites are, I'm sorry. If you don't know what spider mites are, I'm sorry. I found out today that some of my plants ended up getting spider mites on them. DOH! So what is a spider mite and what do they do?

 Spider mites are super small, and leave webs like a spider. They eat plants, and breed like wildfire. They are not very nice looking huh? You don't have to worry about them hurting you. They eat plants. Spider mites do get fairly big though. (Just writing about this gives me he Hebe geebies.)

So how do you get rid of them? There are a few answers to that. First if you are able, isolate the plants that you see webs on. If you can enclose the plant in a container, you can raise the humidity for a few days and they should do the trick.


 What if that doesn't work, Help my plant is dying! Well you can take rubbing alcohol and water in a 1:1 solution, put that in a spray bottle. When the solution is in a spray bottle, spray the plant, focusing on the under sides of the leafs, and the base of the plant. This should kill off most of them. If they are still making webs, repeat a few days later.


 Hey! Uh still doing it, now what? Well you will need to use a miticide on your plants. Make sure you talk to a garden expert in your area or do a bunch of research on these guys before you go down this route. Sometimes miticide will have adverse reactions to your plants.


 Yo man, I want to be all natural and stuff, what do you have for me to use? Alright, so all natural it is
Mix 1 part canola oil into 50 parts water (about 1 tablespoon oil to 1 litre water). Add a few drops of dish washing detergent and shake well.  Spray this mixture to take care of your pest problem. They make a wide range of green dish washing soaps

There are a few dusts and sprays for the spider mites. Your local lawn and garden center should have them, or check the web.

So there you have it, a few great options. If you know another great idea let us know. I hope this helps, and that your spider mite problem, and mine will be taken care of.

 Thanks for reading,
     Garrett.

Comments

Top Reads

Contact TGP!

Hey, if you have a story you would like to tell about your indoor gardening, or have pictures of your plants, I would love to see them. You can send an e-mail to me at growingpatch@gmail.com . I'll try my best to respond as quick as I can.   Thanks,     Garrett.

Valentine Plants As Gifts

💘 It's time to be all Lovey and Dovey time 💘 Which you are.  Let's face it, that's why you're here.  You're looking for inspirational ideas or what to hope and dream for. Plants are great for this.  Not just the long stem, freshly cut flowers that will die eventually.  I'm talking about the ones that are in cute little pots and super easy to grow and maintain.   Aloe Vera Jade Plant Hyacinth Snake Plant Bamboo Onward to the Next Step! What makes a plant a great gift is how it is decorated.  The container is where the magic happens.  Have an idea of how you want the gift to be perceived.   Bright and Shiny Cute and Adorable  Rustic and Charming Simple and Pleasing  Get creative and have fun with it.  This is something that they will look at everyday and spend time thinking about you...   ...and THAT is what you are going for ultimately in the end!

Great sites for Gardening help.

When In Doubt. There are times when I need a little bit of gardening help. When my friends or family do not have an answer, I can always turn to the internet. I have found several great sites that have top quality information. Reddit   In the past few years, maybe you have heard of this site. If you have not, I suggest that you check it out. There are two areas of reddit that I like to go to. Gardening  - here you can find useful tips and stories by other gardeners. Even ask them questions if you can not find the answer. What Is This Plant  - Did you go hiking, and found an odd plant? Take a picture of the plant, and post it here. In a few hours someone will let you know what it is, or at least where to look. You Grow Girl   This site is very well written. The pictures in each post are very well done. I enjoy looking at You Grow Girl from time to time. I always seem to get inspired when I do. check out  You Grow Girl .  This is a great article for anyone who is going to w

Reusable foods: a growing list.

 I had posted a list earlier about some foods that you don't have to throw away, you can put them in a pot and regrow them.  Check this post out  for the guides on green onions, and garlic. This time we will be talking about some of our best spuds.    What is first on the table? 🍠Sweet Potatoes! Who doesn't love a sweet potato? If you have never had one, pick one up next shopping trip.  You can prepare them just like a regular potato.  My favorite way to make a sweet potato is to mash them up, and add cinnamon and brown sugar.  My wife taught me this.     To regrow a sweet potato do this.  Take the bottoms of the sweet potato, jam some tooth picks in the sides.  Suspend the potato over a glass of water so it is partly submerged.  Put the cup of water in a sunny spot, and wait a few weeks.  Add water as needed.  Now you will have roots on bottom and shoots on top.  Divide your potato up, and plant.  Harvest your new Sweet potatoes when the leaves turn yellow.  Do