How to deal with spider mites on indoor plants at home? Spider mite on houseplants: how to fight at home? Onions from spider mites on indoor plants.

How to protect your garden from pests and diseases with improvised means? Very simple! There are many tips - and they all work great, try it!

Let's see what tools and how you can use.

Potassium permanganate

It will help in the fight against gray rot of strawberries (2 teaspoons per 10 liters of water), powdery mildew on berry bushes (you need to make a dark pink solution), wireworm (spill the soil with a solution of 2 g per 10 liters of water before planting).

When preparing potatoes for seeds, freshly dug tubers are washed in a strong solution.

Potassium permanganate is desirable to process all bulbous planting material.

Ammonia

If the tips of the onion feathers turn pale and the feather becomes yellowish, it lacks nitrogen. A solution of ammonia will help you. In 10 liters of water, dilute 3 tablespoons of ammonia, pour the onion under the root in the evening.

mustard powder

The soil pollinated with mustard powder is unsuitable for slugs, so strawberries can be protected.

In the first half of summer, berry bushes are sprayed with mustard infusion against gooseberry moths and sawflies (100 g per 10 liters of water, leave for 2 days, strain, dilute with water 1: 2 and add 40 g of soap for every 10 liters of solution).

This infusion will also protect fruit trees from caterpillars of the codling moth and leaf-eating caterpillars (treat the trees 15-20 days after flowering).

He will also help cabbage and root crops, save them from aphids, bedbugs, thrips. Mustard is a real lifesaver for the gardener and gardener, and remember that you can also wash dishes with it, instead of any chemicals.

Slug Beer

If slugs attack you, beer will come to the rescue.

Leave a saucer filled with beer (preferably dark) for the night in places where slugs are most concentrated. Slugs are very fond of dark beer and after such a treat they quickly die.

Honey

Honey is bait for the bear. glass jar grease with honey from the inside at the neck and dig into the ground. The neck is closed with a board with a gap of 1-1.5 cm so that the bear does not get out.

Sugar

A solution of sugar (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water) attracts bees, plants need to be sprayed with this syrup.

Salt

Salt solution protects tuberous planting from ants. If you pour a pack of salt on a fresh stump and roots, it will drown out the growth of a cut down tree and bush. Salt will not allow horseradish to grow: dig up extra bushes, pour salt on the remaining root, and horseradish will die.

Soda

Spraying with soda ash with soap (50 g of soda and 50 g of soap per 10 liters of water) gives a good effect in the fight against powdery mildew. Dilute the soap in soft water (rain is best) and add soda previously dissolved in water.

Kefir

Kefir saves blackcurrant from powdery mildew. The branches of the bush are tied together for convenience and treated with a mixture of kefir and water (1: 1).

Natural remedies for aphids

Aphids do not tolerate apple cider vinegar, but at the same time it is good against fungal diseases. Dilute 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar per 1 liter of water, spray the plants with this solution (in cloudy weather).

Grind 50 g of aloe, pour 1 liter of water, leave for a day and spray the plants.

Coniferous infusion from aphids: Pour 500 g of pine or spruce needles with 2 liters of water and let it brew in a dark place for a week. Before use, dilute with water (1:7) and spray the plants.

10 g of dry peels of orange, tangerine, lemon (any citrus) pour 1 liter of boiling water, soak for 24 hours, boil for 15-20 minutes, strain, dilute to 10 liters of water, spray.

Grind 100 g of garlic (leaves) or 50 g of garlic cloves well in an enameled bucket, fill with water to the brim and leave for 12 hours, strain, spray at least 3 times at intervals of 5 days.

An infusion of 300 g of horse sorrel roots in 10 liters of water helps (infuse for 3 hours). Sorrel can be replaced with 400 g of dandelion leaves.

onion peel

Onion peel spread on strawberry patches eliminates ticks. A decoction of onion peels can be sprayed on carrot crops to scare away the carrot fly.

For processing carrots before storage, an infusion of onion peel is good (50-100 g of peel per 1 liter of water, leave for 3-5 days). Root crops are lowered into it for 10 minutes and, without drying, are laid in storage.

Onion peel helps with yellowing cucumber leaves. If the cucumber leaves begin to turn yellow, feed them with onion infusion. In a bucket warm water(about 300) add 1 cup of onion skins. Put the bucket on the fire, bring to a boil and let it brew for 2 hours. Pour this infusion over the cucumber leaves.

Natural remedies for caterpillars

To get rid of cabbage white caterpillars, scoops and moths, make an infusion of burdock. The crushed leaves are placed in a bucket, topped up to the brim with water. Insist 3 days. We filter and spray the plants.

Small caterpillars are afraid of a decoction of pepper pods.

Finely chop 100 g of pepper, boil over low heat for about an hour, cool, let it brew in a glass bowl for two days, dilute with water (50 g of decoction per 10 liters of water), spray.

Instead of pepper pods, you can take ground red pepper.

Essential oils and cloves for insect repellent

Essential oils will protect not plants, but yourself, from mosquitoes and other midges, they help a lot to work in the garden in the evening.

Apply clove oil to the skin in small amounts, you can buy it in a pharmacy, it is inexpensive. Mosquitoes can't stand this smell. You can prepare a clove remedy in a different way: boil 5 g of cloves in a glass of water for about 10-15 minutes. Mix a teaspoon of the decoction with a tablespoon of cologne (any) and wipe the exposed areas of the body, the product works for about two hours.

Basil, anise and eucalyptus oils will protect the house when the window is open. Moisten a cotton pad and place it on the windowsill. Insects will not fly in. Such fleece can be carried in pockets when you work in the garden. The same oils can be dripped into an open fire, onto hot bricks (if the house has a stove).

Not a single insect will sit on you if you wash yourself with a decoction of wormwood roots. A handful of chopped wormwood roots pour 1.5 liters of water, bring to a boil, let it brew.

IMPORTANT!

Adhere to the norms for concentration, excessive strength of the solutions can cause leaf burns.

To a bucket of any infusion add 40 g of liquid or laundry soap or a tablespoon of a simple Lotus laundry detergent, so you will increase the efficiency of plant treatment.

Processing of plants is best done in the evening. This will protect the leaves of plants from burns, and the bees from poisoning.

Spider mites. Control measures

The simplest recipe is to treat plants with a soap solution, but it is not always effective, especially in the fight against ticks.

It helps to increase the humidity of the air, daily spraying the plant with warm water (this control measure is ideal for indoor plants). Don't forget to process the underside of the leaves as well. This is the best prevention against spider mites.

If the tick has already appeared and folk remedies do not help, dicofol-based acaricide, which is contained in special aerosols, will help. Insecticides "Aktellik", "Fitoverm" are effective. After spraying, wrap the plant with a transparent film. So you isolate it, at the same time increasing the humidity of the air, which will lead to the death of spider mites.

Chemical pest control

If the plants are severely affected and folk remedies do not help, you will have to turn to pesticides to save the garden.

There is a range special means for getting rid of ants and other types of insects, these products work effectively. See also section other household chemicals, there are baits and means of destroying pests.

Let's see what remedies help.

Pests are a considerable threat to all gardens, kitchen gardens, and just indoor plants. This is especially true of such a tireless and difficult to remove their representative as a spider mite, the symptoms of damage from which are not always definable even for experienced summer residents. The tick is a real scourge for plants, after the invasion of which, they die irrevocably. In order to successfully fight and counteract a tick, one should timely determine its appearance, know its nature and behavior, as well as effective folk methods fight him.

Spider mite - what it looks like and how it spoils plants

Tetranychus urticae is an insect so small that you can’t just see it, the size is only 0.5 mm. To see the pest, you need a magnifying glass, through which you can see an oval body covered with sparse bristles, as well as several pairs of legs, with which he deftly runs through the plants and moves from them to the neighboring ones.

The color of the spider mite can be different - green, yellow, red, orange, it largely depends on the environment in which it lives and on which plants. But most often it is green.

The plant chosen by the tick becomes his home, and he begins to braid it with his thin cobweb. It is one of the signs (symptoms) of the presence of a spider mite on the culture. Food for the pest is the juice of the plant, so it bites into the leaf, and can bite into the petals of the flowers. Thereby inner side leaves after the attack of the spider mite is covered with small white dots, and this is the second sign of the presence of an insect on the plant.

After the leaf is damaged, the plant fails in the work of such a process as photosynthesis. The culture does not receive all the nutrients that it should accumulate, as a result of which it weakens, starts to get sick, and then may die.

As for the flowers, the mite inexorably spoils the entire flower, destroying it from the inside, naturally, there is no longer any aesthetic appearance and cannot be. It is worth noting that the tick, leaving the already “gutted” plant, and moving to another, also transfers various diseases.

The difficulty of identifying a pest by symptoms is further complicated by the fact that when the piebald surfaces of the leaves begin to gradually turn yellow and the foliage falls off, inexperienced growers think that this is a manifestation of fungal diseases, and spend precious time on fungicide treatments. But we emphasize once again: on lemons, roses, sweet potatoes and cucumbers, spots first appear where the tick has stuck.

Here is a wonderful video where we managed to show the symptoms of a spider mite damage in close-up (to speed up the viewing, click on the gear and set the viewing speed to 1.5):

Reproduction of the pest occurs almost instantly - in one, maximum two weeks, an adult appears from the egg. Only low temperatures and sufficient humidity can restrain this process - in these cases, reproduction occurs rather slowly. But in return, a little later, when a favorable atmosphere is established, you can get an abnormal outbreak of tick fertility, and then it will simply be everywhere. It is noteworthy that in room conditions the pest occupies the territory more quickly, and if one plant gets sick, then the entire flower corner can get sick very soon.

Features of the behavior of the spider mite

Fighting a tick is quite difficult, for this you need to know the features of its behavior. For example, in a strong heat, the pest leaves the garden, heading for dark places, and freezes there, or, in other words, falls into short-term hibernation (diapause). Most of these places are rooms. After the downturn of abnormal heat, the spider mite returns to its activities.

Similar behavior in the insect can be observed in the autumn period. With the onset of cold weather, the female also falls asleep, and not all individuals seek refuge for themselves, some remain to winter right on the flowers.

During these periods - when the pest "leaves" - it is useless to treat the plants with some preparations, because the tick will return safe and sound.

Folk and preventive measures against spider mites for indoor plants

As you know, it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure, and in this case, this saying is 100% valid. When growing indoor plants, preventive measures should be taken so that the flowers do not experience the invasion of the spider mite:


Folk remedies how to get rid of a spider mite if it has already appeared

If the tick has already begun to "nibble" indoor flowers, then it is necessary to apply emergency measures, and in a complex, so as not to lose the entire flower corner.

  • First you need to wash the plant (its aerial part). Wash each leaf thoroughly. warm water, with the obligatory addition of laundry soap to it. Washing should also be subjected to - a pot, saucers, surfaces on which the flower lives. These measures, of course, will not get rid of the spider mite, but they will greatly reduce its number.
  • As you know, the tick is afraid of high humidity, so you need to arrange just such an atmosphere for it. To do this, the plants are watered abundantly, sprayed, and then covered with a plastic bag on top, creating a greenhouse effect to destroy the pest. Only here you should be careful - do not expose the plant in this form in the sun, otherwise there is a threat to burn the leaves. It is enough to leave such a greenhouse for 3 days.
  • Medical alcohol. They process pots, coasters for pots, surfaces on which flowers stand. For example, if the plant is on the windowsill, then it is necessary to process the top, side, and bottom of the structure. The soil is also sprayed with alcohol.
  • Folk methods of dealing with spider mites:
    • A decoction of cyclamen tubers is detrimental to ticks. The tubers are cut and boiled for 30-40 minutes. The resulting broth is cooled, and then the plants are treated with it. Carry out such treatments once a week;
    • Squeeze 250 g of garlic into 10 liters of water, leave for a day, strain and spray each leaf from the underside, spray with another tincture every other day - pour 1 kg of celandine tops with 3 liters of boiling water, and after a day dilute to 10 liters, strain and spray and alternate such processing every other day, it is enough to carry out three sprays of each tincture;
    • The processing of onion peel tincture gives an excellent result - winter stocks of onion shells are stuffed into a liter jar, poured with boiling water and allowed to stand for a day. Add 200-300 ml of the resulting solution to a 10-liter sprayer. Processing is carried out every 3 days in the evening, abundantly wetting the reverse side of the sheet.


Low-toxic purchased remedies for spider mites

  • Treatment with insect-acaricides of biological origin. These are substances such as "Fitoverma", "Aktofit" and "Vermitek". They are safe for humans and animals, but for spider mites they are detrimental. But, unfortunately, as for the whitefly, such spraying has absolutely no effect on dormant individuals, eggs and larvae, so treatments must be carried out regularly. If the room temperature fluctuates around 20 degrees, then you need to process it once every 10 days, and if it is much higher, then the treatment takes place twice a week. But for these drugs there is one caveat - if the room is colder than 18 degrees, they are useless, they have no effect on the pest.
  • Hormonal preparation "Apollo" of contact action. It has minimal toxicity, but it destroys oviposition and prevents adult mites from multiplying. Use according to instructions.

That's pretty detailed video with an overview of preparations for protection against spider mites:

Biological methods of protection against spider mites

Of the biological means of control in greenhouses and winter gardens, predatory insect-entomophagous insects are mainly used - lacewings, phytoseiulus, western metaseiulus and ambliseius (Mackenzie and Californian). It is more convenient to use phytoseiulus, as they multiply rapidly and are happy to destroy another sap-sucking pest - the whitefly.

Other types of tick

Do you want to be surprised? There are mites that do not weave a web, and the presence of a pest is even more difficult to determine. In addition to the usual spider mite, the following species are also found:

In conclusion, I would like to note that although it is difficult to identify the presence of a tick in a timely manner by symptoms - the cobwebs are poorly visible, and the tick itself is too small - but it is much easier to deal with it than with the whitefly. So the use of any of the above measures to combat the spider mite will definitely give a result, and quite quickly - just pay due attention to this, since a single treatment due to the presence of oviposition is not enough.

As a rule, the main reason for the appearance of indoor plants spider mites is the purchase of the next flower in a flower shop. Larvae or even adults remain on plants as a result of not proper care behind the plants.

So! Each time you buy a new flower, you should carefully examine each leaf of the plant, as well as the soil for the presence of harmful insects. To be safe, it is better to identify the purchased flowers in a separate place, for quarantine. After 2 weeks, if no signs of pest activity appear, the flowers can be identified in their permanent place.

The first signs of infection of plants with a tick:

  • The leaves begin to turn yellow from the bottom. Affected areas lose chlorophyll, discolor and dry out.
  • Since the leaves do not receive the right amount of nutrients, they curl and fall off.
  • The places where the colony of the spider mite settled are covered with a thin cobweb.
  • If you do not start the fight against these pests, then the plant gradually weakens and may die.

The infected plant is immediately removed from its place and placed in quarantine.

From spider mites help:

  • Vermitek.
  • Fitoverm.
  • Aktofit.
  • Akarin.
  • Kleshchevit.
  • Agravertin.

Interesting! After treatment, it can take from 3 to 7 days before the pests die. These compounds are less toxic, and they act differently. Therefore, you should not expect instant destruction of pests or doubt the effectiveness of drugs.

If ticks multiply very quickly and biological products, and even more so, folk methods, do not cope with their task, then it is better to resort to the use chemicals, the so-called acaricides. Some types of ticks have already managed to adapt to the action of chemicals, so you have to use 2 or even 3 different drugs. In any case, an effective remedy can always be found.

The use of chemicals involves the use individual means protection, along with some rules. For example:

  • Wear long sleeves, hat and gloves.
  • For the treatment of indoor plants, the use of drugs of 3-4 classes of toxicity is permissible. More toxic agents are intended for outdoor use.
  • Before spraying, the root zone is closed so that the chemical composition does not get to the roots. Alternatively, you can use a plastic bag.
  • Plant processing is carried out strictly according to the instructions. If the flower is seriously affected, then more than one such treatment will be required, and possibly all four, in order to guarantee the destruction of the pest.

Such drugs have such an effect:

  • Sunmite.
  • Floromite.
  • Flumite.
  • Apollo.
  • Oberon.

You can prepare the following compositions:

  • Onion infusion. To do this, take a medium-sized onion and cut it into strips or cubes, then pour boiling water over them. After 4 hours, the infusion is filtered, poured into a spray bottle, and then the leaves are sprayed with this solution.
  • Infusion of potato tops. Green raw materials are crushed and poured with 1 liter of boiling water. After 4 hours the solution is ready for use.
  • The use of celandine. To prepare the infusion, take 1 liter of boiling water and pour 2 tablespoons of green or dried celandine leaves into it. After 4 hours the solution is ready for use.
  • Decoction of yarrow. It is necessary to take 1 liter of boiling water and 100 grams of yarrow. Boil the solution for 3 minutes, let it brew for 4 hours and you can use it, but before that it should be filtered.
  • Dandelion infusion. You need to take the leaves and roots of the plant, grind them and take 3 tablespoons, after which the raw material is poured with boiling water. After 4 hours, the solution is filtered and used for its intended purpose.

Instructive! Soap solution is allowed to process only the upper surface of the leaves. Respiratory pores are located at the bottom of the leaf. If these pores are closed with soapy suds and then dry, then gas exchange may be disturbed and the leaves will wither.

  • Every three days it is recommended to wipe the leaves of indoor flowers and other plants with a damp cloth. ornamental plants. For this you need to take hot water and rinse the cloth well every time.
  • Do not let the soil dry out.
  • Constantly remove fallen leaves from the flowerpot, which can serve as a hiding place for ticks.
  • Flowers are regularly fertilized and maintained the desired temperature regime and humidity. If the plant is strong and healthy, then it may be too tough even for ticks.

Novice flower growers believe that you can get rid of mites if you completely immerse the plant in water. Actually it is not. Firstly, you can harm the flower itself, and secondly, an air bubble forms around the tick. Of course, if you keep the flower in water for several hours, the effect will be obvious, but hardly any flower can withstand it. Most effective method is rubbing the leaves hot water, but this method will not be effective if many spider mite colonies are found on the plant.

In order not to spend a lot of effort and energy on the fight against flat pests, it is better to adhere to certain rules for caring for indoor plants. If you like flowers so much and you can’t do without them, then you need to take care of them properly.

The family of spider mites has more than 1200 species and is found everywhere except Antarctica. The size of an adult male is 0.3-0.45 mm, females - 0.4-0.8 mm. More often than other species, the common spider mite turns out to be a pest of garden and agricultural plots. It feeds on the juice of green plants, leaving behind dry skeletons, braided with cobwebs. Phytophage belongs to the class of arachnids, it is not an insect, but an animal.

What does a spider mite look like? The shape of its body resembles an ellipse, it is covered with hairs, the back is convex. Larvae have 6 legs, adults have 8. On thin legs sharp claws with which they cling to the surface of plants. The color of the larvae is from light green to brown, darkening with age. Reproduction occurs by laying eggs. In the absence of fertilization, males appear from them, and females from the fertilized masonry.

One generation lives from 14 to 30 days, females manage to lay 100-150 eggs during this period. A voracious larva appears from each after 3 days. Under adverse conditions, offspring do not appear for 2 weeks. Eggs can lie alive for up to 5 years. At each stage of their development from larva to adult, arachnids feed on cell sap. Weakened immune cultures do not cope with infectious diseases. Following the pest comes gray rot, soot fungus and other diseases.

High temperature (from 27 0) and low humidity are the optimal conditions for the active reproduction of pests. With a reduction in daylight hours, they plunge into diapause, a state of hibernation. Hiding in the crevices of buildings, soil or plant remains, phytophages wait for the onset of heat. This ability makes it much more difficult to fight them.

Pest on vegetables - how to fight?

spider mite has preference among vegetable crops, most often he chooses cucumbers, melons, eggplants, peppers. Phytophages feel especially good in a greenhouse. Here they are protected from bad weather and temperature fluctuations. High speed reproduction in favorable conditions leads to the rapid infection of all vegetables.

The result of the activity of the pest are:

  • mechanical damage back side leaves;
  • slowing down the development of the ovary;
  • when a spider mite appears on cucumbers, the upper tier of plants is covered with cobwebs;
  • there is a violation of the processes of photosynthesis;
  • necrosis develops, the plant is deformed and dries up;
  • productivity drops drastically.

Attention. The natural enemy of the spider mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, is used in greenhouses to kill pests. The predator feeds exclusively on this species; it is absolutely not dangerous for plants and humans.

Prevention is an important step in pest control

The fight against phytophage includes mandatory preventive measures:

  1. After harvesting, it is necessary to remove all crop residues, pull out and remove weeds. It is in them that pests find refuge for the winter.
  2. Planting plants to carry out with an interval between rows.
  3. Carry out soil reclamation, remove the top layer of contaminated soil and replace it with a new one.
  4. To get rid of the spider mite wintering in the greenhouse, it is necessary to fumigate, and burn all structures with a blowtorch.
  5. Inside the greenhouse, it is recommended to set a climate regime that is uncomfortable for pests - humidity 80-90%, temperature up to 25 0.
  6. Regularly treat with acaricidal preparations.

Chemical and biological preparations for plant treatment

Methods for dealing with spider mites include the use of improvised means and specially designed preparations. The first option is environmentally friendly, but with a strong infection is not effective. At the first signs of the appearance of a pest, it is recommended that all plants be treated with a soapy solution (100 g of laundry soap per 10 liters of water). Infusions of onion peel, garlic and tobacco are used.

Ecological and safe methods of phytophage destruction include the use of the predatory mite phytoseilus. It is enough to place 60 individuals per m 2 of the plot to get rid of eggs, larvae and adult pests. Acariphage is active at temperatures from 20 0 high humidity. After removing all the enemies, the predator will die without food.

Chemical preparations are much more effective in the struggle to preserve the crop. A lot of means have been created that can destroy the pest at various stages of development.

  • Karbofos is an organophosphate, insecticide and acaricide. Available in various forms and concentrations. The active ingredient malathion is effective against insects and arachnids. Duration of protection in open ground 10 days, in a greenhouse - up to 7 days. Spraying is carried out in the evening in calm weather.
  • Actellik is a spider mite remedy suitable for use in open and protected soil. The drug belongs to insectoacaricides, it does not affect the plant, it poisons only pests. The substance of enteric-contact action has fumigant properties, destroying phytophages on both sides of the leaves. The duration of exposure is 2-3 weeks.
  • Apollo - the action of the acaricide is directed to eggs and larvae. This drug is one of the few that can cope with pests at an early stage of development. The active compound clofentezin sterilizes adults, preventing reproduction. Apollo refers to contact action acaricides; to poison eggs, it is necessary to thoroughly moisten the plants with a freshly prepared solution. The substance is slightly toxic, safe for humans and insects. The protection of the drug is valid for up to 2 months.

Attention. When crops are treated with one chemical preparation, pests develop addiction. During the summer season it is necessary to change the means of destruction.

Types of mites on indoor plants

Spider mite occupies a special place among plant diseases. Phytophages are persistent and difficult to remove pests, including several species:

  • The common spider mite is a species common on the ground and indoors. Colonies settle on the underside of leaves, hiding from sun rays. Adults quickly crawl from the infected plant to neighboring flowers.
  • Red tick - indoor plants often suffer from attacks by a small pest that settles on lemon, balsam. Soft-bodied females 0.5 mm in size are purple, males 0.3 mm are painted bright red.
  • False spider mite - differs in miniature dimensions of 0.25 mm, does not weave a web. Infection becomes noticeable with a huge number of individuals.
  • Atlantic mite - looks like a spider mite. It breeds at any humidity, prefers palm trees and citrus trees.
  • Cyclamen mite - affects the edges of leaves, buds and stems. Not visible to the naked eye. Colonies settle on the upper side of the leaves and look like a layer of dust. Pests choose cyclamens, balsams, chrysanthemums and other tuberous plants.
  • A wide spider mite - a phytophage is very prolific, every 5 days a new generation appears on the leaves. After 2-3 weeks, the plant is entangled in cobwebs and clusters of mites, similar to reddish-brown dust. The pest attacks oleander, ficus, cactus, tagetis. In the fight against it, sulfur preparations are effective.
  • Cactus flat mite - it is recommended to use insecticides to destroy phytophages. Processing is carried out several times with an interval of 7 days.

Where do spider mites come from on flowers?

Pests are unpretentious in choosing a habitat, they can be found on various indoor flowers:

  • ficus;
  • palm;
  • Azalea Sims;
  • the Rose;
  • cyperus.

The first signs of infection are yellow dots on the leaves, eventually merging into a large spot. A microscopic arthropod in small quantities does not braid houseplants with cobwebs, therefore it is not immediately noticeable. Usually, the harm caused to them is attributed to a lack or excess of moisture. Look for pests on the back of the leaves. When there are several dozen individuals, they can be seen.

Attention. If you suspect the appearance of a spider mite on a ficus, it is worth conducting a simple study. Rub the sheet over the paper, and then examine the surface with a magnifying glass. A few pests are sure to fall off the plant and be noticed.

How do indoor plants become infected?

The pest enters plants in various ways:

  1. With the infected indoor flower. When buying a new plant, you need to carefully examine its leaves. You won’t be able to notice the tick, and the yellow dots on the leaves will make you think about the health of the plant.
  2. With soil. Purchased or from the street soil can be fraught with danger in the form of a female or spider mite larvae. Arachnids can go into diapause, a state of slow metabolism, under adverse conditions. They come to life with an increase in temperature and a decrease in humidity. After the start heating season the pest begins active life.
  3. Through an open window with the wind. Residents of the first floors are more likely to risk their houseplants when open windows. Adults travel long distances with the wind, clinging to the web. The pest can be brought onto the balcony, as well as get into the apartment on the clothes of summer residents. It is mobile, in search of food, it actively develops new territories. A flower mite brought in with a fresh bouquet will be a threat to all houseplants.

Pest control methods

After removing dry leaves, the rest are wiped with a napkin dipped in soapy water on both sides. This allows you to remove adults and some of the larvae. To enhance the effect, the plant, together with foam, is placed in a plastic bag for 2 days. After 48 hours, it is thoroughly washed with a warm shower. The procedure is not one-time, it is repeated after a week.

Attention. Simultaneously with the processing of flowers, it is necessary to wash the window sill (with soap or alcohol), window frames, and wash the curtains.

A common method of getting rid of spider mites is alcohol treatment. It should be carried out carefully, first try on one leaf so that there is no burn. Alcohol is applied with a sprayer or cotton pad. The treatment is suitable for ficus, dieffenbachia and other plants with dense leaves. Such disinfection is effective for window frames. Recommended exposure ultraviolet lamps. It only benefits plants, and mites always avoid contact with ultraviolet radiation.

Special chemicals

Without the use of chemistry, it will not be possible to completely eliminate pests. designed for indoor use. An effective method of dealing with spider mites is spraying chemical compounds and their cultivation of the earth in a pot. Recommended remedies include:

Fitoverm

Plant-based bio-insecticide Fitoverm can be safely used at home. It is recommended for the prevention and destruction of pests on indoor plants. The effect of the product begins 6-7 hours after application. The period of protective action is 2-3 weeks. An ampoule of the drug (2 ml) must be added to 1 liter of water, ready composition spray heavily on infected plants.

Aktara

A modern acaricidal preparation is used not only in the garden, but also for the destruction of pests on flowers - roses, violets, ficus and others. The agent is offered in the form of a concentrated emulsion and water-soluble granules. Small packaging in ampoules and sachets is convenient when processing home plants. Actara from spider mites is a systemic drug. It penetrates the leaves and tissues of plants, sucking out the juice from them, the pests receive a dose of poison.

An hour after the insecticide enters their body, phytophages lose their ability to feed and die within a day. The action of the drug when applied to the soil protects indoor plants for 2 months. When spraying, use a fresh solution. When working with a toxic substance, care should be taken - wear gloves, wash your face and hands after work, change clothes.

Plant Pin

Sticks with the active ingredient butoxycarboxy. A remedy for spider mites on houseplants that does not require spraying. The number of sticks depends on the diameter of the pot - 9 cm - 1, 12 cm - 2, 20 cm - 5-6. They are stuck into the ground at a distance of 2 cm from the plant. During watering, the active substance dissolves and enters the roots of the flower. The effect of the drug is noted after 3-7 days. It will protect against the pest for 8 weeks. Etisso has a similar effect.

Prevention

It is better to prevent infection with phytophages than to fight them later. Keep indoor plants will help simple rules:

  • The active development of spider mites on lemon, ficus and other indoor plants occurs in dry air conditions. You should ventilate the room more often and sprinkle the plants with water.
  • Prepared on their own or purchased ground mixture is sterilized in the oven, the moss is treated with boiling water.
  • When processing plants, be sure to wipe the window sill, where fallen pests may be.
  • You can not put bouquets of cut flowers next to indoor plants.
  • New plants must go through a quarantine period - stand apart from others 2-3 weeks after purchase. Even if the purchase is made in a specialized store.

Advice. Flower pots put in wide trays of water, which will gradually evaporate, creating humidity that is uncomfortable for ticks.

Measures for the prevention and control of spider mites are distinguished by an integrated approach. They require taking into account the characteristics of the development of the pest. If after the first treatment there was no complete destruction, then after 7-10 days it must be repeated. Ticks are resistant to external factors, but with due perseverance, they can be defeated.

Care of plants in the house, work on personal plot for lovers of the green world - hard work, but not without pleasure. Especially when you see the results of your work. It's a shame when the plant suddenly begins to turn yellow, covered with nasty dots, or even completely fades. A thin web appears at the top or along the entire height. We sympathize - you got a spider mite. Look for an effective remedy for spider mites, and immediately, otherwise the crop will be lost! In room conditions, mites are very active and quickly move from leaf to leaf, from one plant to another. Delay in action threatens to infect everyone

Meet the spider mite

It is almost impossible to see a small insect, ranging in size from 0.3 to 0.5 mm, with the naked eye, and even more so its eggs. Rather, the damage caused by it is immediately visible. The spider mite, despite the name, is not related to the category of mites. It's not an insect, it's an arachnid. This information is important in order to determine the effective remedy for spider mites.

The color of the insects varies from green to brown-brown or red in winter time. The body is rounded and covered with bristles. Spider mites hide on the underside of plants, and it is difficult to notice them because of their tiny size. They begin to look for a remedy for spider mites when the leaves are already covered with brown or white dots. It is very difficult to practically destroy this pest completely and forever. Ticks have greater vitality and, when adverse conditions occur, they cease to spoil the plant, but do not die. They can endure a long period of starvation by hibernating in anticipation of better times.

Optimal living conditions

The unique adaptability to the habitat and weather conditions allows the spider mite to live throughout the globe, except for Antarctica. Optimal conditions: temperature 20 - 30 degrees Celsius, air humidity - 35-55%. The active stage of activity and reproduction of the pest begins in the open air from June. In early August, ticks begin to hibernate. It is the active period that is favorable for spraying plants. It is worth using folk remedies for spider mites. Very high summer temperatures high humidity, the onset of cold weather stops the active phase of activity, the insects hibernate, hide in the soil, in the crevices of buildings, under the remains of plants.

They crawl under the baseboards, on the ceiling, in the cracks in the window sills. It is difficult to use a remedy for spider mites during this period, since the spiders themselves are not visible, and their places of activity are also - they sleep and do not eat. Visually it seems that everything is in order, but the tick is just waiting for a favorable period.

Tick ​​larvae and adults are carried by humans, animals, on the web. Yes, they crawl fast. AT good conditions egg clutches remain viable for up to 5 years.

Severity of damage

The tiny size is offset by the numbers. Spider mites live in colonies, they can give from 12 to 20 generations per year. And everyone, starting with the larvae, eats much larger than their size. Larvae and adults feed on plant sap, which is obtained by piercing a leaf. Numerous bites are those very small white dots. The affected leaf loses chlorophyll, the process of photosynthesis is disrupted. In addition, due to the destruction of the shell, the cell loses moisture, the sheet begins to dry. Dead cells merge into one yellow spot, then the stem, flowers, top are damaged - and the plant dies.

In parallel with the main harm, spider mites are carriers of various harmful bacteria and pathogens. It is more effective to use a spider mite remedy at the beginning of an infection. A plant that is already covered with cobwebs is too late and difficult to save. In addition to the main harm, ticks are carriers of various viruses and harmful bacteria, which also cause side diseases.

Whether in the garden, in the garden ...

Methods of dealing with this scourge are not limited to the use of chemicals. Folk remedies for spider mites, physical destruction and biological intervention are also used. The spider mite in our strip has many varieties, but some of them are especially dangerous for the garden. It needs to be known in order to determine the best remedy from spider mites for a specific group of plants, and apply it at the most appropriate time.

The problem of some indoor views that spray treatment is not suitable for them. And how to deal with spider mites - folk remedies Or insecticides in this case? There is a way out: tampons soaked in a prepared remedy from onion or garlic, a decoction of herbs are placed in pots with affected plants. The plant is covered with a plastic bag for several days to increase the concentration of fumes.

If this misfortune started up in the apartment, disinfect the entire window sill, preventive treatment of healthy plants. In some cases, it may be necessary to sacrifice one, the most diseased flower, in order to save the rest. Ticks spread very quickly and hide well when adverse conditions occur.

The fight is physical

This concept means, first of all, the creation of favorable conditions for the development of plants: watering, destruction of weeds. For indoor plants great importance has a content temperature.

The first single affected plants must be removed immediately. Destroy torn out damaged sheets or shoots, do not just leave them on the ground - this is a breeding ground for the next generations of the pest.

Biological impact

To combat the tick, biological preparations have been created: Akarin, Bitoxibacillin, Fitoverm. How to apply them correctly?

  • "Akarin" is diluted in a proportion of 2 ml of the drug per liter of water.
  • "Bitoxibacillin" - 80-100 g per 10 liters of water. The disadvantage of this drug is that it can cause allergies when in contact with treated plants.

Both solutions are used throughout the growing season every 15-17 days.

  • "Fitoverm" is diluted in the amount of 10 ml per 10 liters of water. Processing is carried out every 7-10 or 14-20 days. The treatment period depends on the age and size of the plant.

Another common drawback of biological agents is that they act exclusively on adults. Eggs and larvae are not affected. The processing period depends on this: for each generation - a new portion.

The pesticides clofentezin and flufenzin belong to the group of hormonal pesticides. They do not destroy all individuals at once, but sterilize the uterus. The effect of their use is long-term, but becomes noticeable after a few days. Some individuals die out, while others do not appear. If you need to destroy the tick urgently, you can mix this drug with any of the biological products.

Advantages and disadvantages of "chemistry"

What you need to know about the use of chemical industry preparations in the fight against spider mites?

Fighting spider mites with folk remedies

Methods, proven by folk experience, have an effect no worse than industrial preparations. In any case, they will not bring harm to either man or animal. Ingredients for solutions - the simplest and most affordable. Not only houseplants, but also the inhabitants of the beds, especially cucumbers, are subject to processing with folk remedies.

  • At the first sign of illness, take a cold shower daily for the plant. This is suitable for those species that do not mind such a procedure.
  • You can use either dishwashing detergent - wash the leaves, stems, pot, window sill well.
  • Grind approximately 150 g of peeled garlic in any way, pour 1 liter of water and leave for 5-7 hours. Dilute the resulting concentrate in the proportion of 5 ml / 1 l of water, use for plant treatment.
  • Like garlic, onion infusion is prepared, only it is used without dilution. Garlic cloves, onion slices can be put in a pot if the houseplant does not like spraying. Cover the pot with a plastic bag.
  • An infusion is prepared from the roots of dandelion officinalis: 20 g of roots per 1 liter of water. Take warm water. You can apply after a couple of hours.
  • It is possible to treat infected places of hard-leaved plants with a swab dipped in medical alcohol. This must be done carefully and quickly so as not to burn the leaves.

  • Cyclamen. Boil several tubers of this plant for 40 minutes. A day later, the broth is ready for use.
  • yarrow. Pour a kilogram of dried grass with a bucket of boiling water. After 3-4 days, add 3 tbsp. spoons of grated laundry soap.
  • Tar soap. Proportion: 10 g per liter of water.
  • Turpentine. A jar of turpentine is placed near the affected houseplant and covered with a plastic bag together for several hours.

Prevention

On the beds:

  • Timely destruction of weeds in the beds and around greenhouses, greenhouses.
  • Ensure adequate watering.
  • It is good to fertilize plants - they have greater viability against diseases and infection.
  • Clean the garden in the fall, dig deep into the ground.

Indoors:

  • Plants must be kept in optimal conditions: excessive dryness, as well as excessive moisture, is a favorable environment for spider mites.
  • On broad-leaved plants, dust regularly with a damp, clean cloth, periodically pamper the indoor garden with shower rain (except for those who are harmful).
  • Withered flowers, dried leaves, remove in time. This is not only the prevention of diseases, but also a way to extend the flowering period.

  • There is good remedy to prevent the appearance of a spider mite - a few drops of neem tree oil added to the water for spraying.
  • All medicinal folk methods aimed at destroying the pest can be used in smaller doses for preventive treatment. If you don’t want to lose your favorite home plants or your cucumber crop, treat them occasionally with an infusion that is harmless to people.