How to treat cucumbers for mites using folk remedies? - briefly
Apply a spray made from diluted neem oil (2 ml per litre water) or a garlic‑infused solution (one cup crushed garlic boiled in a litre of water, cooled and strained) to foliage every 5–7 days, ensuring thorough coverage of leaves and undersides. Complement with a weak tobacco decoction (one tablespoon tobacco leaves per litre water) applied at the same interval to suppress mite populations.
How to treat cucumbers for mites using folk remedies? - in detail
Cucumber plants infested with spider mites require immediate action to prevent leaf damage and loss of yield. Folk preparations can be effective when applied correctly.
Identify the pest by spotting tiny, moving specks on the undersides of leaves and the presence of fine webbing. Early detection allows treatment before the population explodes.
Common household remedies
- Neem oil mixture – combine 2 ml cold‑pressed neem oil with 1 ml liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Shake well and spray until runoff covers both leaf surfaces. Apply every 5‑7 days until mites disappear.
- Garlic‑pepper spray – crush 5 g garlic and 5 g hot pepper, steep in 500 ml warm water for 30 minutes, strain, add 1 ml liquid soap and dilute to 1 liter. Spray twice weekly, avoiding direct sunlight to reduce leaf burn.
- Tomato leaf infusion – place 200 g fresh tomato leaves in 1 liter of water, let stand for 24 hours, strain, add a few drops of soap, and spray. Repeat every 4 days.
- Tobacco dust – dry tobacco leaves, grind to a fine powder, dust lightly on foliage in the early evening. Reapply after rain.
- Wood ash – sprinkle a thin layer of ash around the base of the plant and on leaves. Ash desiccates mites and their eggs.
- Diatomaceous earth – apply a dry coating on leaves and soil surface. Reapply after watering.
Cultural practices that enhance efficacy
- Keep foliage dry by watering at the soil level; excess moisture encourages mite proliferation.
- Remove and destroy heavily infested leaves to lower population density.
- Rotate crops annually; avoid planting cucumbers in the same spot for consecutive seasons.
- Encourage natural predators such as lady beetles and predatory mites by providing flowering border plants.
Safety precautions
- Test any spray on a single leaf 24 hours before full application; stop use if discoloration occurs.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when handling tobacco or ash.
- Do not apply oil‑based sprays in temperatures above 30 °C; risk of phytotoxicity increases.
Consistent application of these traditional preparations, combined with proper garden hygiene, eliminates spider mites and restores healthy growth in cucumber crops.