Spider Mites on Rosemary (5+ Ways to get rid of them & prevent them)
Oh, what the heck! Is this a spider web? How is this possible? Yesterday my rosemary looked perfect. What should I do? Will my rosemary plant die? This was my reaction after seeing my rosemary covered in webs. But I don’t want my plant to die because of spider mites, so I conducted multiple experiments and luckily found a remedy to get rid of them.
I know many of you may have faced this situation before or are facing it now. How would you feel if you could treat and protect your rosemary plant without having to cut it? Interesting, right?
Here, I’ve explained all the steps and methods that will help you keep spider mites away from your rosemary plant. So, without further ado, scroll down to get all your answers.
Quick takeaways:
- There are ways that can help in fixing the spider mites on rosemary easily.
- The best ways that can help you in this are the use of neem oil, rubbing alcohol on the plant leaves, watering the plants with a hose, and many more explained below.
- Before you get started on eliminating these pests, you should know what spider mites look like, what creatures they are, and how they cause damage so you can easily identify them.
What exactly are spider mites and how do they look?
Spider mites get their name from the thinning web they produce, just like spiders. Spider mites are tiny arachnids, red-orange in color, and must often be viewed with a magnifying glass.
When spider mites are in their nymphal stage, they are green (nymphs). Spider mites are seen on the plants when the temperature is high, as it is during the summer.
Spider mites are so light that they can be moved by wind, and they are highly mobile, so getting rid of them requires a lot of effort. They are also transmitted through clothing. Spider mites typically take over the leaves, creating thin webs with tiny bugs inside. The leaves begin to turn brown, appear lifeless, and then die!
What damage caused by spider mites looks like?
The primary indicator of spider mite damage is the yellow speckling on the leaves, which in some cases can also appear white.
- The plant parts, particularly the leaves, have webs on them.
- Another sign that spider mites are killing the plants is that the leaves are turning brown just like basil leaves.
- The leaves start to droop and fall, appearing dead.
- When there is a significant spider mite infestation, the leaves will curl or fall off.
- If necessary, use a magnifying glass to confirm that the insects are spider mites.
How to Get Rid of Spider Mites on Rosemary Permanently?
1. Essential oils and neem oil
Neem oil, sprayed on the leaves and rosemary plant parts, is another natural way to remove the epidermis from rosemary leaves. One of the ways to get rid of Spider Mites on rosemary is by making use of neem oil.
The spider mites will be killed by being choked by the neem oil. Spider mites are also attracted to neem oil. In addition to this, you can also use essential oils to kill spider mites, such as peppermint, rosemary, and others.
2. Employ natural predators
Beneficial insects or predators can be used to eliminate spider mites and make less of a mess. They simply eat them and then vanish.
To get rid of spider mites on rosemary, you can buy beneficial insects such as ladybugs, thrips, and lacewings and use them on rosemary plants.
This is called biological control. You can also plant some plants near the mites to attract beneficial insects so that they can hop on these spider mites.
3. Spider mites can be poisoned by pepper spray
Peppers such as bell peppers, cayenne peppers, and jalapenos can be toxic to spider mites by forming a tingly layer on the plant’s surface and irritating adult spider mites.
Simply combine some hot pepper extract with a little water and spray it on parts as well as mite webs to threaten and kill some of them. Similarly, because garlic is toxic to spider mites, you can make garlic spray and apply it to affected areas.
4. Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap
Spider mites are killed by insecticidal soap sprays. So, One of the ways to get rid of Spider Mites on rosemary is the use of insecticidal soap. You can use organic insecticidal soap as you see fit.
The horticultural oil should be applied to both surfaces of the leaves and left to work for several hours. Ensure that the soap gets onto the majority of spider mites, killing them.
5. A Water spray
The rosemary plants can be sprayed with water at a high rate of speed using a hose. It will prevent the spider mites on rosemary. Due to their lightweight and inability to jump or fly, spider mites will be thrown away by the water’s blast. Make sure the garden is thoroughly cleaned and that no other plants are being damaged by water.
These plants may be easily affected by spider mites. The spider mites are flung far away when water is sprayed in the direction where there are no plants.
6. Applying alcohol to the plants
Last but not least, you have to use alcohol to get rid of spider mites on rosemary. Rub the leaves where you see spider mites and their infestations with alcohol using cotton balls or a soft cotton cloth. Allow the alcohol to do its work before washing the rosemary leaves with water.
How to prevent spider mites on rosemary plants?
You may be concerned that the spider mites will return now that you have exterminated them. So, here are some preventive measures you can take to keep spider mites away from rosemary plants.
- Keep weeds away from your herb and vegetable plants. If you spot any weeds, pull them out and use weeding tools to make the job easier.
- It is always a good idea to thoroughly inspect the pants before bringing them home. Spider mites are easily moved, so for God’s sake, only bring the healthy rosemary plant home!
- Whether the rosemary plant is doing well or not, it is our responsibility to regularly check the rosemary plants for spider mite infestations. If they are numerous, spider mites can only be seen. If the plants are showing any signs of a spider mite infestation, look for those signs.
- To prevent the spider mites on rosemary from spreading to other parts of the rosemary plant and to save the plant, if a few affected parts of the plant are to be cut off from the rest of the plant. Make sure the component is properly destroyed.
- The rosemary plant should be kept trimmed and clean; otherwise, spider mites will find it very simple to attack the plant.
- Don’t let the rosemary plant parts dry out; instead, water them regularly and lightly. Allow the soil to dry out; if it appears dry, water the plant as soon as possible. The soil should also have proper drainage.
Wrap-up of the context
We hope that you are feeling a little more relieved and less stressed than you were before because you now understand what you need to do. The pests that you are seeing are spider mites, as well as the methods you were using and the tips you would follow to keep spider mites away from your rosemary plants. Follow these smart and effective methods, and please let us know which method you used.
Happy gardening!
FAQs
1. What do spider mites hate?
Plants with a strong aroma or an urgent smell, such as garlic, peppermint, rosemary, parsley, dill, and so on, deter spider mites.
2. Do spider mites stay in soil?
The spider mites are easily moved from the infested plant to the healthy plant. They are minute in size. The spider mites also survive in soil and live there, most of the stages of spider mites are spent on the plant parts, especially the leaves.
3. Why do spider mites keep coming back?
If kept dry for a long time, the spider mites find these plants to be the perfect site for their home, food, and egg layings. The spider mites if they have not been cleared completely will surely come back. Kill them properly or harvest the plants that are being heavily affected.