How can I get rid of a tick on cucumbers in a greenhouse during fruiting using folk remedies? - briefly
Apply a diluted neem‑oil spray or a garlic‑infused water solution to the foliage, covering both leaves and stems, and repeat every 5‑7 days throughout fruit development. Complement the treatment with a mild soap‑water rinse to dislodge any remaining mites and improve plant health.
How can I get rid of a tick on cucumbers in a greenhouse during fruiting using folk remedies? - in detail
Spider mites are a common problem for cucumbers grown in protected environments, especially when the fruits are developing. Folk remedies can suppress the population without harming the crop or leaving chemical residues.
A saline spray made from 1 kg of table salt dissolved in 10 L of warm water, with a few drops of liquid soap to improve adhesion, can be applied to foliage and fruits every five days. The solution must be thoroughly rinsed after 24 hours to prevent leaf burn, especially on tender fruit surfaces.
A neem‑oil mixture, prepared by diluting 2 % cold‑pressed neem oil in water and adding 0.5 % mild detergent, offers both insecticidal and repellent effects. Apply in the early morning or late evening to avoid photodegradation. Re‑application every seven days maintains control.
Infusions of garlic and hot pepper provide a repellent barrier. Blend 5 cloves of crushed garlic with 2 g of finely ground cayenne pepper in 1 L of water, let stand for 24 hours, strain, then add 1 % liquid soap. Spray until runoff, repeating every four days during fruit set.
Beneficial insects such as predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) can be introduced alongside the remedies. Release rates of 10 – 15 predators per square meter establish a biological control that reduces reliance on repeated sprays.
Cultural measures complement the treatments: maintain humidity at 70 %–80 % to discourage mite reproduction, avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, and remove heavily infested leaves promptly. Clean greenhouse benches and tools with a 10 % bleach solution weekly to eliminate residual eggs.
All preparations should be tested on a small leaf area before full application to verify plant tolerance. Record dates of each treatment, observed mite counts, and fruit quality to adjust intervals and concentrations for optimal results.