How can you treat spider mites in a greenhouse using folk remedies? - briefly
Apply neem oil, insecticidal soap, or a diluted garlic‑pepper solution to infested foliage, ensuring thorough coverage and repeat applications every 5‑7 days until populations decline. Complement treatments with regular removal of heavily affected leaves and maintain low humidity to discourage mite reproduction.
How can you treat spider mites in a greenhouse using folk remedies? - in detail
Spider mites thrive in warm, dry greenhouse conditions. Effective control with traditional household preparations requires accurate identification, environmental adjustment, and regular application of non‑synthetic sprays.
Identify the pest by spotting tiny, moving specks on leaf undersides, stippled or yellowed foliage, and fine webbing. Confirm presence before treatment to avoid unnecessary chemical use.
Preparation of folk sprays
- Garlic‑pepper solution: Blend 4–5 cloves of garlic and 1 teaspoon of hot pepper flakes with 1 liter of water. Let steep for 12 hours, strain, add 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap as an emulsifier, and dilute to 2 liters before use. Spray until runoff covers both leaf surfaces.
- Neem oil emulsion: Mix 2 ml of cold‑pressed neem oil with 1 ml of soap in 1 liter of water. Apply early morning or late afternoon to protect beneficial insects.
- Soap‑water spray: Dissolve 2 teaspoons of pure castile soap in 1 liter of water. Use directly on infested foliage; repeat every 5–7 days until mites disappear.
- Tobacco decoction: Soak 1 cup of dried tobacco leaves in 2 liters of water for 24 hours. Strain, add 1 teaspoon of soap, and spray. Limit to 2 applications per week to prevent phytotoxicity.
- Diatomaceous earth dusting: Lightly coat the soil surface and leaf undersides with food‑grade diatomaceous earth. Reapply after watering or rain.
Environmental management
- Increase relative humidity to 60–70 % by misting or using humidifiers; high humidity suppresses mite reproduction.
- Enhance ventilation to lower temperature fluctuations and reduce leaf drying.
- Remove heavily infested leaves promptly to lower population density.
Application protocol
- Apply the chosen spray in the early growth stage of the season, before populations expand.
- Cover both leaf surfaces thoroughly; mites hide on the underside.
- Repeat applications every 5 days for three cycles, then shift to a maintenance schedule of weekly sprays until monitoring shows zero activity.
- Rotate between two different sprays (e.g., garlic‑pepper and neem oil) to avoid mite adaptation.
Safety considerations
- Test any spray on a small leaf area 24 hours before full application to detect phytotoxic reactions.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when handling hot pepper or tobacco extracts.
- Keep sprays away from pollinating insects during bloom periods; apply when flowers are closed.
By combining accurate pest detection, humidity control, and systematic use of these traditional preparations, greenhouse growers can suppress spider mite outbreaks without resorting to synthetic acaricides. Continuous monitoring and prompt removal of reinfestations sustain long‑term protection.