Many gardeners might be familiar with spider mites. These annoying pests suck the sap from almost any type of plant. So, whether you planted a vegetable garden, fruit trees, flowering plants, or you have houseplants around, you might have dealt with them at least once in your lifetime.
But how can you get rid of them without harming your plants? Is pepper spray effective for getting rid of spider mites? We have collected all the information you must know on the subject in this essential guide.
Should You Use Pepper Spray For Spider Mites?
We recommend you avoid using chemical pesticides, which may harm other plants and kill beneficial insects. Hot pepper spray is a safer way to control the spider mites population.
Of course, these kinds of solutions might not have immediate results. However, you’ll be able to remove annoying pests by repeating applications as long as you notice their presence.
Using pepper spray on your plants isn’t particularly challenging. Make one at home by combining one teaspoon of cayenne pepper (or you can use the same quantity of hot sauce) with warm water and half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap.
Let the solution sit overnight, and then add it to a spray container. Apply it to the tops and the bottoms of your plant’s leaves and repeat every couple of days for as long as you feel it is necessary.
Are There Natural Alternatives to Pepper Spray?
If you don’t like using cayenne pepper on your plants, don’t worry: there are other natural alternatives you should consider. For instance, when the infestation isn’t severe, you can use a strong water hose to drown the insects and remove most of your plants.
Do so as soon as you notice the appearance of silky webs around your plants. It will help remove most of the bugs. Unfortunately, it won’t be as effective with a large population of mites.
Alternatively, you can consider getting mites’ natural predators, such as ladybugs and gall midges. You can purchase them online or attract them by making the environment around your plants more suitable for them. For instance, keep your plants moist, avoid using pesticides, and consider adding mulch around your plants.
Essential oils are other effective solutions you can consider using. Of course, as with most organic controls, using oils will not kill the entire spider population immediately. However, it might make your plants less attractive and prevent the bugs’ appearance.
Other home remedies you can try include spraying dish soap or rubbing your plants’ leaves with alcohol.
How Long Do You Have to Treat Your Plants with Pepper Spray?
The answer to this question depends on the severity of the infestation. For instance, if there aren’t many bugs on your plants, you can expect to get rid of mites in a few weeks.
Don’t forget to re-apply the mixture every five days (or so) to maintain the effectiveness. While this is true for most organic solutions, if you decide to bring natural predators to spider mites, you might be able to get rid of the problem slightly quicker.
Unfortunately, spider mites feed on the sap of most plant species, meaning they might infect even your plants’ neighbors. For this reason, you must take action as soon as you can. If you feel the situation is getting out of control, consider removing the affected plants and throwing them in the trash.
Related article: Can Spider Mites Live Without Plants?