please share your spider mite wash recipe

chastom · April 12, 2013

could some of you please share a good natural homemade spider mite recipe spray.
thanks

JLJ_ · April 12, 2013

I have seen a number of sources recommend dusting with food grade diatomaceous earth for spider and other mites (among other things).

I am not sure whether I can personally attest to food grade DE as "mite bane" or not. I have had symptoms that look like spider mite symptoms in terms of leaf damage -- including on some of this years tomato seedlings. But I couldn't find any webs or see any mites, even peering at the leaf undersides with magnification. But perhaps my eyes are no longer of mite-detection quality.

In any event, when I dust with food grade DE, the symptoms diminish -- so I suspect that food grade DE either slays mites or casts out evil spirits.

MissS · April 13, 2013

I use flea and tick shampoo for dogs. Spray the plants and let them sit for 5 minutes and then rinse it off. I find it just as effective as the expensive soaps and chemicals, yet it is not harmful to children or pets if they get into the plants.

Skaggydog · April 13, 2013

Soap and Neem Oil

SIP Gro-Tubs · May 17, 2013

2 TBS of Ivory dish soap per gallon of water, saturate the plants and surrounding areas.

If the plants are small and in pots, mix the soap in a large container, add a liquid fertilizer at a reduced rate per gl, and submerge the whole plant including the pot for 2-3 minutes.

Do not rinse off.

Spider mites like warm areas that are low in humidity.

April 12, 2013	#1
chastom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: stephenville tx Posts: 73	please share your spider mite wash recipe could some of you please share a good natural homemade spider mite recipe spray. thanks

April 13, 2013	#3
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	I use flea and tick shampoo for dogs. Spray the plants and let them sit for 5 minutes and then rinse it off. I find it just as effective as the expensive soaps and chemicals, yet it is not harmful to children or pets if they get into the plants. __________________ ~ Patti ~

April 12, 2013	#2
JLJ_ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 759	I have seen a number of sources recommend dusting with food grade diatomaceous earth for spider and other mites (among other things). I am not sure whether I can personally attest to food grade DE as "mite bane" or not. I have had symptoms that look like spider mite symptoms in terms of leaf damage -- including on some of this years tomato seedlings. But I couldn't find any webs or see any mites, even peering at the leaf undersides with magnification. But perhaps my eyes are no longer of mite-detection quality. In any event, when I dust with food grade DE, the symptoms diminish -- so I suspect that food grade DE either slays mites or casts out evil spirits.

April 13, 2013	#4
Skaggydog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 131	Soap and Neem Oil

May 17, 2013	#5
SIP Gro-Tubs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Natalia, TX Posts: 143	2 TBS of Ivory dish soap per gallon of water, saturate the plants and surrounding areas. If the plants are small and in pots, mix the soap in a large container, add a liquid fertilizer at a reduced rate per gl, and submerge the whole plant including the pot for 2-3 minutes. Do not rinse off. Spider mites like warm areas that are low in humidity.