Topic: Help - Red Spider Mites

[derbex]

In the greenhouse, all over one of my cucumbers. What's the best way to get rid of them, without killing off the cucumber?

Jeremy

[sandersj89]

Have a look at the RHS fact sheet on the subject:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/red_spider_mite.asp

Control via chemical or parasites is possible.

They also hate damp surfaces, misting with water 4 or 5 times a day will put them off.

HTH

jerry

[tim]

A stupid question but - all over one cu ??

Over the fruit? Leaves? Only the topmost leaves? They're covered with webs? You know the beast when you see it?

Good advice from 89. Trouble with predators is maintaining the temperature just when you want it! And not cheap. = Tim

[derbex]

Sorry -to be more specific, all over the leaves (top & bottom I think) of one cucumber plant (and possibly the aubergines but it shows less there).

There are fine webs over some of the leaves -not like your average spider web.

I'd post a photo -but I left the camera on the boat and won't be seeing it for another week ??? It does looks a lot like this -


Unfortunately misting 4-5 times a day isn't really an option, once is realistic, twice is possible. I might try hanging a sheet up with one end in a bucket of water, to see if that helps.

Jeremy

[Mrs Ava]

Grrrr...we get them terribly in our conservatory and the only way we were able to control them was to up the humidity, so loads of spraying as often as was sensible, and we left pots of water all around the place.  Leaves were washed also to get rid of the webs and as many of the little blighters as possible.  

[tim]

 - and cut off as many infected leaves as you can spare - mites and all. Or, better, ditch the plant & concetrate on keeping the others clean. Like wiping each leaf & spraying with fatty acids. = Tim