Hey everyone, so I’ve been having a bit of a battle with spider mites on my succulents lately, and I thought I’d share my experience and what I’ve been doing to fight these little buggers. It all started when I noticed some fine webbing on a couple of my plants. At first, I thought it was just regular spider webs, but then I saw these tiny moving dots. Yep, spider mites.
These little pests are super tiny, like the size of a speck of dust. They’re not actually spiders, but they’re related. They love to suck the juices out of succulent leaves, leaving them looking all sad and unhealthy. My plants were starting to look a bit dull and had some weird discoloration, so I knew I had to take action.
First Thing I did
- Quarantine the infected plants: I immediately moved the affected plants away from the others to prevent the mites from spreading. It’s like giving them a time-out, but for pests.
Fighting Back
- Water Blast: I took my plants outside and gave them a good strong spray with the garden hose. I made sure to get both the top and underside of the leaves. This helped to physically knock off a lot of the mites. It’s a bit messy, but it works!
- Daily Wash: I kept up with the water treatment every day for about a week. It’s a bit of a hassle, but you gotta do what you gotta do. These mites are pretty fragile, so the water really does a number on them. I just used a regular spray bottle for this.
- Misting: After the initial water blast, I started misting the plants a couple of times a day. Spider mites hate humidity, so this helps to keep them at bay. Plus, my succulents seem to enjoy the extra moisture.
- Neem Oil Mix: I’ve also started using a neem oil solution. Neem oil is a natural pesticide that’s safe for plants and pets. I mixed a bit of neem oil with water and a tiny drop of dish soap in a spray bottle. I sprayed this on the plants every few days, making sure to get all the nooks and crannies where the mites might be hiding.
It’s been a few weeks now, and I’m happy to report that the spider mite situation is under control. My succulents are looking much happier and healthier. It took some work, but it was totally worth it. I’ll definitely be keeping a closer eye on my plants from now on to catch any future infestations early. I hope you guys don’t get spider mites, good luck!
