Ailing plants should always be checked for mites. Root mites live hidden in the root area of the plant and are difficult to detect in the potting soil. Spider mites can be easily recognized by the fine spider threads on leaves and plant stems.
How to combat mites in potting soil?
To combat mites in potting soil, you can repot the infected plant, wash roots thoroughly, dispose of old soil and clean the pot. Use fresh, sterilized soil and water with wormwood tea to kill mites. Spider mites are driven away by a humid indoor climate.
The root mites
They are about 0.7 – 1.5 mm in size and have a whitish shine. Although they do not have a long life expectancy, they reproduce rapidly. They live in the moist root area of a plant and eat tunnels in the roots, tubers or bulbs. Where they damage the plant, bacteria and fungi also find opportunities to penetrate. The plant is attacked by pests several times and has no chance of survival over a longer period of time. If an infestation is detected, countermeasures must be taken immediately.
Fighting root mites
In addition to insecticides, there are various gentle options available.
Repotting
If the plant is severely infested, the only solution is to repot it. This should be done very thoroughly:
- Take the plant out of the pot and remove all soil.
- Wash the roots under running water.
- Dispose of the old soil in the trash.
- Clean the flower pot with alcohol.
- Use good quality potting soil.
- To be on the safe side, you can sterilize the soil in the oven at 100 degrees to kill all pests.
- Place your plant in new soil.
Wormwood tea
This tea comes in bags and just needs to be brewed. Once cooled, use the wormwood tea as irrigation water for several days.
The spider mites
They can be recognized by their spider threads and bright, dry spots on the plant. Especially in winter, the dry heating air creates ideal conditions for the pest.
The fight
Spider mites are driven away with moisture. Mist your plant with water and cover it with a plastic pot. This creates a warm, humid climate that drives away the mites.
If the infestation is small, you can shower your plant thoroughly and then stick special plant protection sticks into the soil.
In order to remove the spider mite eggs in the soil, it is advisable to completely replace the soil. The infected soil is disposed of as residual waste.
Prevention
If you always keep your plants moderately moist, spider mites will not colonize. Regular spraying creates a humid indoor climate in which spider mites do not feel comfortable.
