How can indoor plants be sprayed for spider mite? - briefly
Apply a fine mist of diluted insecticidal soap or neem oil, covering both upper and lower leaf surfaces, and repeat every 5–7 days until mites disappear. Ensure thorough coverage, avoid runoff, and maintain proper indoor humidity to discourage reinfestation.
How can indoor plants be sprayed for spider mite? - in detail
Treating indoor foliage for spider‑mite infestations requires a systematic spray regimen that combines correct timing, appropriate solutions, and safe application techniques.
Select a suitable spray mixture. Effective options include:
- Diluted neem oil (5 ml per litre of water) with a few drops of mild liquid soap to emulsify.
- Insecticidal soap prepared from pure potassium salts (1 tsp per litre) plus a surfactant.
- Homemade aqueous solution of horticultural oil (1 % v/v) mixed with water.
- Chemical miticide such as abamectin, applied strictly according to label rates.
Prepare the solution in a clean container, stir gently, and allow the mixture to equilibrate for 10 minutes. Test a small leaf area for phytotoxicity; wait 24 hours before full application.
Apply the spray when humidity is moderate (40–60 %) and temperature is between 18 °C and 25 °C. Use a fine‑mist atomizer to coat both leaf surfaces thoroughly, ensuring runoff does not accumulate in the potting medium. Cover the undersides of leaves, where spider mites typically reside.
Schedule repeat applications every 5–7 days for three to four cycles. Interrupt the cycle if visual inspection shows a decline in mite activity. After the final treatment, increase ambient airflow and reduce excess moisture to discourage reinfestation.
Maintain preventive measures: regularly wipe leaf surfaces with a damp cloth, avoid over‑watering, and isolate newly introduced plants for at least two weeks before integrating them into the collection. These practices, combined with the described spray protocol, provide reliable control of spider‑mite populations on indoor plants.