Spider mites are a common pest that can attack your outdoor plants, causing leaves to yellow, curl, and drop from the plants. Spider mites are small spider-like creatures that feed on plant sap. They lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and also on stems.
How to Identify Spider Mites: The most obvious sign of spider mite infestation is webbing on the plant. Spider mite webs look like fine white strands of silk and can be found on the underside of the leaves or in the crevices of twigs and branches.
The webs are where the spider mites will lay their eggs. You may also notice yellow dots or stippling on the foliage, which is caused by spider mite feeding.
How to Control Spider Mites: The best way to control spider mites is through preventive measures. This includes using a strong stream of water to rinse off dust and debris from your plants regularly as these can attract spider mites. Keeping your plants healthy by providing adequate amounts of water, light, and nutrients can also help prevent infestations from occurring as it will make them less attractive to spider mites.
Natural Predators: Natural predators such as ladybugs, predatory mites, lacewings, and parasitic wasps can help keep spider mite populations under control by attacking them directly or by eating their eggs before they hatch. You can purchase these beneficial insects online or at garden centers and release them into your garden where they will hunt down and feed on any existing spider mite populations.
Neem Oil: Neem oil is another organic method for controlling spider mite populations as it disrupts their growth cycle and kills existing adults while also repelling new ones from settling onto your plants. Neem oil should be applied directly onto infested areas every seven days until all signs of infestation are gone.
Chemical Pesticides: If you have a severe infestation of spider mites that cannot be controlled with natural methods then chemical pesticides may be necessary in order to bring them under control quickly. Chemical pesticides should only be used as a last resort as they can also harm beneficial insects such as ladybugs and may cause damage to your plants if not applied correctly.
Conclusion: Spider mites are a common pest that can damage outdoor plants if left unchecked and uncontrolled. The best way to keep them away is through preventive measures such as regular dusting/rinsing off of plants, providing adequate amounts of water/light/nutrients for healthy growth, introducing natural predators into your garden, applying neem oil for prevention/control, or using chemical pesticides in extreme cases where other methods have failed.
