How Do I Finally Get Rid of Those Stubborn Spider Mites?
Asked by PlantLover92
I've been struggling with spider mites for years and nothing seems to work. I've tried beneficial mites, but they always arrive half dead and are super pricey. Azamax and Kontos systemic treatment helped at first, but now the mites are back even though I keep up with regular treatments. I can't believe I spent $250 on that concentrate! I've also tried neem oil, dish soap, and pretty much everything else I can think of. It's like I have some super resistant spider mites that just won't die! I'm really out of ideas, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Answers
I totally feel your pain! I've battled with these mites too. I heard that ladybugs can help. Some folks swear by them, but they didn’t work for me. Still, I got two bags of ladybugs two years ago and haven't seen mites since! Maybe give them a try?
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Diatomaceous earth did wonders for me! After that, I wiped down the plants with a mix of neem oil, peppermint Castile soap, and water. Just make sure the DE is not too thick—using it outside helps too, since it also kills ants!
HelpfulHank33: Here’s a [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/houseplants/s/jLgAHJ1qh5) in case you need a reference for the DE method.
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After trying everything, I just tossed a bunch of my plants out into the garden, which surprisingly worked pretty well. For the ones I wanted to save, I added predatory mites, and they really helped take out the spider mites!
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I use insecticidal soap every 3-5 days, depending on the temperature, and it usually clears them out. Also, consider increasing humidity; I blasted my plants with a humidifier after treating them with neem oil and it helped a lot!
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MiteBane78: I've seen mixed results with ladybugs, but they worked for me! After I released them, my mite problem was gone.