Growing indoors, I am eventually plagued by spider mites at least once a season. It’s always discouraging when those small strands start appearing between branches. I usually start a new internet search, re-reading all the things I’ve already tried before, hoping to find something new. I tried all the concoctions that are safe for use indoors, and around fish, and while they inhibit the spread, the continuous applications are exhausting.
This last time around was different. This time they were growing on my key lime tree, that I had grown from seed, and is now over 3 years old. It was just recovering from larval gnats that almost killed it. It lost nearly all it’s leaves and I pruned it back to ease up demand on the remaining roots while they grew back, and to stimulate some re-growth of branches. There was no way I was going to let spider mite’s kill this tree. They were also on my Aleppo Pepper, and they love to kill my peppers.
I was reading about diluting alcohol and spraying that on plants to dry the insects, OR applying diatomaceous earth to the plant in puffs.
I’ve tried the alcohol spray before, and while it works, it doesn’t get them all, and when you think you’ve killed them all and let your guard down, they always make a resurgence.
I never used diatomaceous earth because the mess of spraying a fine powder that is hazardous to human lungs around the house is a non-starter.
That’s when I got the idea to mix the diatomaceous earth (DE) into the alcohol solution and spray that on the plants. The nice thing about having the DE in a solution is it’s not going to be as big of a breathing hazard, it will go directly where it is targeted without floating off and will distribute on the plant quite nicely. When the alcohol solution evaporates, the powder will remain stuck to the plant, and since it will be dry again, will be effective in killing any insect that walks through it. The alcohol diminishes the number of spider mites, and the DE will continue to kill anything left that survived, or kill anything that hatches later on.
If you spray it indoors, you do have to mop up anything that hits another surface before it dries, or you can let it dry and wipe it up with a wet cloth, but it’s pretty inert, and very easy to clean up, so I don’t worry about spraying it inside.
Recipe for 1 liter spray bottle:
Shake the bottle frequently while spraying to keep the DE well distributed.
Results:
I removed the webs & sprayed both the key lime tree & the pepper plant twice, separated by 24 hours, making sure to coat the undersides of the leaves and all the nooks and crannies. I inspected both plants twice a day after that. There were two occasions where a single thread showed up on the key lime tree. I removed it and gave it a spritz for good measure. The pepper plant never had a single thread come back. After two weeks I used some plain water to gently spray the leaves and rinse off any DE that wants to come off. You can easily wipe it off dry as well. It’s now been 3 months and without any further treatment, there have been no more signs of infestation.
It’s fast, cheap, effective, organic, and I’m happy to finally have something that works against these things.
All items were purchased by myself. Affiliate links are present. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Hey Mike is this recipe effective on outdoor gardens using food grade DE? My entire garden has them,I think they were in the mushroom soil I had delivered….. Thank you!
As long as it doesn’t rain it should be fine. They can come in on the wind, so if your infestation is outdoors, it is hard to pinpoint the cause.
Hi Mike, what’s the concentration of the alcohol that you used? Rubbing alcohol 70%? Tq
I got it, missed the section on your recipe. Thanks!
I know you mentioned the alcohol evaporating, but does mixing the DE in a liquid solution change its ability to harm the pests? Like breaking down the sharp edges?
Once it dries it has the same properties as before.
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FAQs
What is a reliable and safe homemade spider mite killer? A solution of mild dish soap mixed with rubbing alcohol and water can be a safe homemade spider mite killer. Applying it to the infested areas can help break down the pests' protective layers, causing them to dehydrate and die.
How to control spider mites organically? ›
You can also use organic salts like potassium or fatty acids and apply them to the infected area of the plants to free your plants from spider mites. Also, make sure that you keep your plants free from weeds and remove dust and debris lying near them to keep a spider mite control check.
What do you mix to kill spider mites? ›
Using a 16 ounce water spray bottle, combine 12 ounces of water, 4 ounces of 92% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol and 2 tablespoons of Dawn Dish Detergent. You can use other dish detergents, if you do not have Dawn, but we find that the classic, blue Dawn is the best.
Does garden tech sevin kill spider mites? ›
But even with good bugs on your side, mite populations large enough to create visible plant damage require action. Sevin Insect Killer Ready to Use2 kills spider mites and more than 130 listed pests on contact.
What are effective spider mite killing techniques? ›
Use mixture of alcohol and water to remove and kill visible spider mites. Dilute 1 cup of alcohol in 30 oz of water and pour this solution in the spray bottle. Spray both sides of leaves well and wipe them off with the paper towel.
Can you permanently get rid of spider mites? ›
Spray With Chemical Pesticide
A variety of commercial chemical pesticides will kill spider mite infestations, including malathion, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and kelthane.
What do spider mites hate the most? ›
Spider mites hate water, so a good spray down with a strong stream of water will knock them off plants and reduce the population significantly. Water the top and bottom of plant leaves to make sure you remove any webbing or egg sacks that may be present.
Does vinegar actually kill spider mites? ›
One being that it's highly acidic which plant pests such as spider mites loathe, earning it top pest control points. Make a simple spider mite spray using ACP by doing the following: Mix a 3 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp baking soda and a few drops of liquid dish soap in 1ltr of lukewarm water in a spray bottle.
What is the mixture of hydrogen peroxide to kill spider mites? ›
It's recommended that you use peroxide at a strength of three percent, which is full strength for the drugstore kind. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray the affected plants, making sure to soak the soil surface, crown and the undersides of the leaves.
What is the best predator bug for spider mites? ›
The Number One Predator: Phytoseiulus persimilis
Phytoseiulus persimilis is the most effective Spider Mite predator if applied in the optimum conditions.
“They're so small, they can even hitch a ride into your home on you or your pets,” he says. But one place they do not enter your home is through the soil in your houseplants. “I'm going to bust a myth,” says Opela. “Spider mites are not breeding in your soil.
Will misting kill spider mites? ›
Mist your plants.
You don't run a risk of overwatering if you keep the soil on the dry side and mist your plants regularly. This misting inhibits spider mites movements, increases the survival of natural predators and (most importantly) can cause an internal bacteria in their gut to bloom and kill them.
How do you make homemade spider mite spray with Dawn? ›
Dish Soap Spider Mite Killer
A step-by-step procedure on making spider mites spray with a Dawn recipe includes: Add three tablespoons of Dawn dish soap to a gallon of water. Pluck out all the leaves with severe spider mite damage due to infestation.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide to get rid of spider mites? ›
You'll notice a significant improvement after only one application, but it's recommended to keep using it daily for about a week to ensure that all the mites are dead. Peroxide won't kill the eggs, however, so you may want to combine this method with neem oil.
Does vinegar get rid of spider mites? ›
One being that it's highly acidic which plant pests such as spider mites loathe, earning it top pest control points. Make a simple spider mite spray using ACP by doing the following: Mix a 3 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp baking soda and a few drops of liquid dish soap in 1ltr of lukewarm water in a spray bottle.
What are three natural enemies of spider mites? ›
Key natural enemies include predatory thrips, lacewings, and minute pirate bugs. Predatory mites, which are about the same size as plant-feeding mites but have longer legs and are more active, are also effective in reducing spider mite numbers.
