How To Deal With Red Spider Mites

Red spider mites are these tiny red insects that will suck the sap off your plants and can quickly kill your crops if left untreated.

To identify and deal with these critters I would start off by saying get a magnifying glass. Spider mites are very small and tend to be difficult to spot with the naked eye.  You want to look for white spots on the leaves.

You may also notice that there are black and yellow spots on both sides of the leaves. These can look like signs of malnourishment so to get a closer look one would need a magnifying glass. To begin dealing with them there are a few things one needs to get in order.

Red mites thrive in dry  and warm areas. One needs proper ventilation, keep the humidity around 55-60%, and keep the temperature around 25 degrees celsius or 77 degrees fahrenheit.

These conditions will make it unlikely that mites will choose to stay in your grow area. If you already have noticed their invasion then don’t lose hope you can still get rid of them.  Mix alcohol and water into a spray bottle and treat the affected areas.

Insecticidal  soap such as potassium soap works very well against soft bodied insects like spider mites. You can also use neem oil and ecotenona to deal with them.

It is important to note that for indoor farmers keeping the environment at the right conditions is essential for preventing spider mites.