Killing Spider Mites

by EvanGreenThumb

11K4115

Intro: Killing Spider Mites

Are you having an uncontrollable issue with your plants? cant seem to find a way to stop the attack? NO PROBLEM! its not the end of the world!

Spider mites (Class Arachnida) are tiny sap-sucking plant pests. They attack the underside of leaves and suck the vigor from the plant; with large infestations they may even kill a plant. As soon as you spot an infestation, don't panic. Take a deep breath, I wrote this article just for you!

STEP 1: Identify

Before we go too much further, lets narrow some things down or order to be sure you have a spider mite infestation.

We wouldn't want you pursuing the wrong issue!

Here are some of the most common signs of a Spider Mite infestation:

  • Slowed growth
  • Plant stress
  • Rough leaves/ Curling downwards
  • Teeny Tiny Bugs
  • Small webbing around your plant
  • Small pale spots on leaves

STEP 2: Wipe/ Wash Leaves

Wipe the leaves of your plants regularly, this helps to get rid of large concentrations of Spider Mites as well as their eggs quickly without damaging your plant.

You will be able to see the tiny insects on your paper towel after each wipe.

  • use only Cool- Warm water (NEVER HOT)

STEP 3: Find Your Product

If you have tried all the following steps and still seem to have in issue, it is time to pick out a pesticide. There are many different products out there, each claiming they are the best.\

Be sure to pay attention to every label !!. After some research on how some plants can pass off chemicals into their DNA and forever carry that chemical, I decided to go with an all natural product called Instant Mite Killer.

I cannot stand having to use a respirator when spraying for mites, not i dont need to anymore and it wont burn your skin. you can buy it either in a concentrate or in a ready to use spray bottle.

instantmitekiller.com

STEP 4: Mixing Your Product

Make sure you read the instruction for your product carefully!!!

Instant Mite Killer recommends using one oz- per gallon unless you have an extraordinary mite issue then you should use 2 oz.

See guys? This isnt too complicated.... right?

STEP 5: Shake, Shake, Shake It All the Time!

ALWAYS be sure to shake your product before every use!!!! sometimes you will need to give it a shake every few minutes

STEP 6: Spray, Spray, Spray Away!

Now its finally time to get to killing those annoying little things all over your plants! go ahead and soak your leaves especially the under sides where the Spider mites tend to live.

The best time to spray:

  • early or late afternoon
  • before or after lights turn on/off (to prevent burning)

Also Spider Mites thrive in warm environments. Once you are at the point of spraying your plants, i would recommend cooling down your grow space quite a bit. Just over 60 Degrees will do just fine, the colder temp forces the Spider Mites to slow their reproduction and movements making it easier to get them under controll. (See Above)

STEP 7: Don't Forget to Respray Often

Preventative maintenance will become your best friend in this battle! If you have had a spider mite problem before, chances are you WILL get them again. They are just too small, and can hide in air vents or on clothes.

You best bet is to keep treating periodically. In cast one of those little horrible spiders starts suckling on your plants again, you wouldn't want a full blown infestation starting up again.

14 Comments

farmishly 4 years ago

"After some research on how some plants can pass off chemicals into their DNA and forever carry that chemical"

Can you cite your source for this claim? I can see how these chemicals affect DNA expression - likely by design - and potentially interfere with reproductive cells, if exposed, I can't believe that somehow the chemical writes itself into the DNA of the plant... BUT like all things, I'm happy to be proven wrong with some good science.

While I'm here, any ideas on what would cause an otherwise healthy outdoor plant to develop a similar set of symptoms as described here:

- Slowed growth
- Plant stress
- Rough leaves
- Uniform reddish tinge to formerly bright and shiny green leaves, similar to your
photo in the top right of "step 1"

I've ruled out mites with treatment and am wondering if it's not part of this strain's (Original Blue Dream) flowering, since all clones seem to be experiencing the same problem, albeit to varying extent and in different soils and areas. The plant gets plenty of water (semi hydroponic; water runs over a board the plant is sitting on in an airpot with bottom 3 inches as expanded clay pellets and remainder as Promix + ferts). Over-watering would seem like the next rational cause but all plants in various soil mixes seem affected.

Any ideas? Thanks for your time. I also meant no offense, I would just like to read the article that you did and would suggest that you cite that sort of claim in the future.

Great contribution overall, though! Thanks!
J

DIY Hacks and How Tos 7 years ago

Great tutorial. Does growing indoors in a controlled environment do anything to prevent spider mites?

EvanGreenThumb 7 years ago

Thank you! Growing indoors in a controlled environment is actually a perfect place for spider mites to thrive. Spider mites love the warm climate usually associated with indoor rooms and in controlled environments there is usually a lack of natural predators. Spider mites are less of a problem when growing outside because of the natural predators.

hfredrick 7 years ago

what are the natural predators of spider mites?

Itrme 7 years ago

Nice instructable. However, as someone who has quite a few plants I'm missing something on prevention. Spidermites love dry environments, which is why they are usually found indoors and in greenhouses. Next to that, plants grown inside are usually a bit more susceptible to pests, usually cause by less then optimal growing conditions (light, humidity etc).

Whenever you spray a plant make sure your plant can handle it. So spray a test area on the plant first.
For example I know for a fact that a lot of passionflowers can't handle most pesticides and will drop all their leaves.

Also something you might like:

They usually start out on the weakest plants but will move to any plant when given enough time and weaken stronger plants. Regular spraying of your plants with water might prevent an infestation, if you have any doubts you can opt for some extra discouraging measures like making a tea from Equisetum arvense and using this to spray from time to time (strengthens the plant cells so its harder for the spidermites to get a foothold) or use the well known green soap / spiritus (burning alcohol?) /water mix which is more of a contact spray (to use directly on the mites.)

timmerson 7 years ago

Demon Weed!! Awesome tutorial been having a huge prob with spider mites without actually knowing what they were. very helpful, also a hilarious choice of plant for ur tutorial

budhaztm 7 years ago

I'm glad you decided to use a natural pesticide. its not only better for you but also your plants. which are looking very good from the pictures.

EvanGreenThumb 7 years ago

Thank you! And we are too. We know that cannabis is a consumable good, and no one wants to be consuming unnatural pesticides!

rafununu 7 years ago

Natural doesn't mean harmless. DNA modifications didn't wait for human action, they are a normal natural process called evolution. I love these plants.

Bantiarna 7 years ago

I have also had luck with the same process. It using rosemary pil. And different plants.....

Bantiarna 7 years ago

Oil** sorry. Phone hates me.