Of all the pests that can attack and destroy a garden, spider mites are among the most difficult to detect. There are many parts of the world in which these terrible pests dwell, and in the US there is hardly a region that they do not inhabit. The Southwest region of the United States has it particularly rough and many residents do not understand the best way to get rid of a spider mite infestation. Because these pests are so tiny, many growers may not even be able to see what is killing the leaves of their plants.

When gardeners known that a problem exists, they may turn to using insecticides before anything else. However, these should be used as a last resort only, because they may harm seedlings or delicate crops. Miticides are also an option, and can be very helpful in a pinch especially if an infestation has grown out of control. Regular application of these substances will remedy the problem, but they may hurt plants even as they are supposed to be helping them. Even organic pesticides are recommended for use as a last resort.

There are other possibilities gardeners should know about to solve this problem. If a mite problem has grown very large, this suggests that the natural balance in your backyard is off. There are not enough helpful pests around to control the populations of harmful pests. One solution to this problem may be to bring home a batch of ladybugs which can be purchased at any garden store, to eat these garden pests. Ladybugs are the best kind of friend a grower can have, as they help plants by eating harmful pests.

Before you take any other action, it is a good idea to attempt to wash the spider mites from the plants. Because a great infestation may also imply that the plants are weak and not receiving enough water or sun, ensure that the plants are getting ample care from you. Spray the plants with a mist of water each day to help keep the mites away; they prefer dry, hot conditions and may leave your plants alone if the leaves are cool and wet. When watering, ensure that you wet not only the soil, but the stems, leaves and buds of the plant.

Obviously, an infestation attacking your indoor plants is probably not present because of hot, dry conditions. And it will not help to introduce ladybugs into your potted houseplants, as the bugs will spend most of their time flying toward the windows, attempting to escape. Even if they do stay and feed upon the mites, you may end up with a new problem: a ladybug surplus in your home. Botanical oils are a great way to fend off mites on indoor plants. They tend to suffocate the mites’ eggs, and therefore once a population has died off in a matter of days, the mites would not return when the eggs are unable to hatch. This remedy is useful because many botanical oils are non-toxic and are safe to use inside the home.

Author Bio: Stewart Wrighter is interested in finding a spider mite treatment that is available for commercial locations. He has an infestation of spider mites in his downtown hotel.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: spider mite,spider mites