Spider Mites - Data Sheet page3/4
Control
Early I.D. and manual removal of infected leaves followed by three applications of a good spray like 'Buzz
Off' with a few days between applications is the best form of control. Predator mites can then be added
after a few days if you wanted to be really thorough.
Make sure you adjust the environmental conditions in your favour as this will significantly slow the infection
while you are treating it. Keep humidity above 50%, or if possible 60% to 80% while you are eliminating the
mite. Keep light up and temperatures down.
Sprays
Unfortunately, Hot Pepper Wax which has been a consistent growers favourite for treating spider mites is
no longer available in the UK but there is an equally efective alternative available.
Buzz Off -Comes in 100ml, 250ml and 1 Litre bottles of concentrate that you dilute with water.
Like pepper wax it completely natural and works extremely well. This spray is highly effective and should
clear any infection. Like all good sprays, at least three applications will be needed with a few days left
between treatments. We highly recommend this product.
Natural Predators
Phytoseiulius is a very effective natural spider mite predator. They are red and about the same size as the
red spider mite. Adults eats about 8 adult red spider mites a day and the egg to egg cycle is faster than the
spider mite.
They reproduce at temperatures below 30'C, so don't let your growroom get too warm.
How effective they will be may depend on how big a spider mite problem you have and how many
predators you introduce as well as other factors. Predators will inevitably take time to deal with the
situation, saying that in 18 hour vegetative rooms they are very effective,100% usually. If you have a bad
mite problem it may be best to spray first to get the mite numbers down and then add the predators 5 or 6
days after the last spray.
Effectiveness in short and long light cycles
Although Phytoseiulius is very effective in 15 hours plus of light, it is not as effective in 13 hours of light or
less.
In short day cycles the when your plants are flowering they can still be used as a good maintenance
measure until harvest.
Application
The predator mites usually come in vials of 500 or 2000 usually suspended in vermiculite. Keep the vials
horizontal until use. Use immediately or store at 5.0C until use.
Take the lid off a vial of 500 and gently share the contents over 5 to 10 plants, pouring the contents on to
one or two of the larger leaves in the middle area of the plant next to the infected area, leaving the cap and
vial in the pot or plant.
Spider Mites - Data Sheet page4/4
Recommended Action
The best way in which you should deal with a spider mite problem depends on what stage in the growth
cycle you are at. Below are precise directions on what you should do to eradicate your problem.
In vegetative stage
Young plants. Younger plants can be effectively treated with a good spray like 'Buzz Off'. You can follow
through with a course of predator mites if you want to be thorough, although it may not be needed.
If you have a bad problem then another option is to dunk the whole plant upside down in a bucket full of
'Hot Pepper Wax' solution. Keep it submerged upside down for a few seconds, do not submerge the root
zone. After a few days introduce some predator mites to finish the job.
Big plants. On bigger plants, identify any badly infected leaves and remove them.You can remove up to
50% of the leaves if the infection is bad. Then spray the plant thoroughly with 'Buzz Off'. Three applications
a few days apart followed by the introduction of predator mites should eliminate the problem.
In flowering stage
As spider mites are hard to control in 13 hours of light or less, it is important that any problem is identified
and dealt with before you shorten your light cycle!
Once in flowering on short light cycles, the Phytoseiulius predator mite is much less effective and spraying
large flowering plants thoroughly is not easy.
Control your problem through manual removal of leaves, creation of environmental conditions to slow the
spider mite down, regular introduction of predator mites and regular spraying.
Elimination may have to wait until the room is empty, or until your growroom is full of smaller plants in more
than 15 hours of light. Sprays and predators are more effective at complete elimination in these conditions.
© 2003 GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Ltd. All rights reserved. GroWell have taken all reasonable care in preparation of this information but make no warrantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and cannot
be held responsible for any resultant effects of using this information on any person or thing including plants or equipment. We reserve the right to change or correct product specifications, prices, errors and omissions without prior
notification. We accept no responsibility for any such changes, errors or omissions. Use of these instructions is solely at the customers discretion and risk.
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