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Spider mites: nothing is working!

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hello
I've tried every recipe I found to get rid of spider mites, but nothing worked! And I definitely don't want to use chemical insecticides.
They keep coming back and in new spots, and I can't notice them until they have full webs inside leaves and around leaves' stalks. They mostly invade my lemon little trees and herbs.
My plants are behind a sunny window, I clean them regularly from dust, and always spray them to keep the humedity, as I live in a hot dry area.
Any suggestions please?

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Comments (2)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
4 years ago
Ran, I'd like to know some of the treatments that you've tried. And are these plants inside or outside; I'm a bit confused on that point.

I suggest that you need to clean your plants on a routine schedule, whether or not you can see the mites. You must assume that they are always there. If your plants are crowded together on a sunny window ledge, perhaps you can separate them and even reduce the population.

Spider mites are spread by humans, by misting, even by air movement on indoor plants.

But, let's hear about some of the things you've tried and we'll go from there. I appreciate you're not wanting to use chemical pesticides.
Ran thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
Ran
Original Author
4 years ago
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7 thank you for your reply!

Yes, the plants are indoors, and I admit they are a bit crowded. I've pruned some of them.

The treatments:

- First I started with just water, as most pages I've read suggest, but definitely it didn't work.

- Then I used a mix of 1/4 vinegar to 1 water, but someone advised me to not use vinegar as it might burn the leaves.

- Water with a little spoon of dish soap

- Water with a little spoon of baby shampoo

- Rubbing alcohol of 75%

- Finally a mix of water with baby shampoo and vegetable oil (waiting for the results)
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