How To Identify Spider Mites
Spider mites are a common cannabis pest and are related to spiders, ticks and other mites. They can be a real pain to get rid of without damaging your plant. Spider mites are most prevalent in soil grows however thy can also be found in any setup where cannabis is being grown. If you have a spider mite infestation you need to deal with it fast. Your plant will be covered in tiny yellow spots which are occur when the spider mite pierces the leaf and sucks out its contents.
Due to the fact they cause a yellowing of leaves many people mistake an infestation for a nutrient deficiency Spider mites often go unnoticed at first because they are so tiny that they look like spots to the naked eye. Male spider mites are about 1/50th of an inch long (.5mm) while females are slightly smaller at about 1/64″ (.4mm), you can see how an infestation can grow massive without the grower even realizing.
Understanding Spider Mites
Lifecycle of Spider Mites
Understanding their rapid reproductive cycle, especially in warm conditions, is crucial for timely intervention. They can develop from egg to adult in as little as 5 days. A single mature female spider mite can produce around a million mites in less than 30 days.
Why They Are a Problem
Spider mites suck the sap from plant cells, causing stress, leaf damage, and even plant death if not controlled. They also have ravenous appetites and bad infestations have been known to kill a plant overnight. Even if you do get rid of them they leave your whole plant covered in a fine webbing which ruins your whole crop.
When dealing with spider mites you have to fully understand their life cycle if you want to stand any chance of getting rid of them. Spider mites rest and molt every few days when they are immature, when they are molting you may think that you have got rid of the spider mite infestation, however they are just hiding and waiting to return in an even stronger form. Even if you do think you have killed them all you need to keep treating your grow room or plants to make sure they are gone for good.
How To Kill Spider Mites
Organic Methods
- Neem Oil: An effective, natural pesticide that disrupts the life cycle of spider mites.
- Insecticidal Soaps: Safe for plants but lethal to spider mites, especially when applied directly.
- Diatomaceous Earth: A natural powder that dehydrates and kills spider mites upon contact.
Chemical Solutions
Use chemical pesticides as a last resort, following label instructions closely to avoid harming the plant or beneficial insects. Miticides specifically designed for spider mites are most effective.
- AzaMax
A time-tested way to rid your grow room of spider mites. Spray plants 15 minutes before lights out, making sure to drench the foliage under the leaves as well as the top of your soil. You may want to use a spray bottle or mister. Use a fan to blow on your leaves to help things dry. Treat your room more than once, even if you believe the spider mites are gone. You can also add small amounts of Azamax when watering your plants, as it will not hurt your roots but will kill spider mites in the soil.
- Spinosad
Spinosad products are organic and unlike many other spider mite pesticides, completely harmless to pets, children, and plants. Unlike many insecticides, you can spray spinosad heavily on leaves and roots with basically no negative effects. Spinosad products can be used directly to kill spider mites on contact. It can also be used when watering plants to systematically kill spider mites via the roots. Spinosad can also be effective at fighting caterpillars, thrips, and many other marijuana pests.
Can be used both as a topical spray like Azamax and Mighty Wash, and can also be used directly at the roots. Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from the fermentation of a specific soil bacteria (actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa) and kills spider mites via ingestion or contact by effecting the insect’s nervous system. Spinosad can be a good choice for organic and outdoor growers, because it is very toxic to spider mites, but is less toxic to many beneficial arthropods.
Conclusion
After realizing how hard it was to get rid of your spider mite infestation, it might motivate you to employ a bit more prevention next time, as this is the best form of defense against spider mites.
Maintain a clean grow room, do not bring any outside plants which could have infestations into your growing environment, same goes for other people and animals, all of these could potentially be carrying spider mites without knowing. You also need to make the grow environment as inhospitable as possible for the spider mites. You can do this by maintaining a great airflow which will help prevent the pests and will also promote healthy plant growth at the same time.
However sometimes there is nothing you can do and an infestation will break out, just remember to detect it as early as possible and act accordingly to eradicate your grow of the spider mites.