Recognize and get rid of spider mites
Owe their name Spider mites gossamer webs that they lay between the shoots and tendrils. A speckled skin also indicates an infestation of these pests. How to fight the pests in harmony with nature:
- Wrap the root ball in a bag to give the cactus a thorough shower with lukewarm water
- Leaf cacti then pack in an airtight, transparent plastic bag for 3-4 days
- Treat desert cacti with an ecological agent with neem oil from specialist dealers
also read
- Fighting mealybugs on cacti - how to get rid of the pests
- Boxwood pests: recognize fleas and fight them effectively
- Effectively combating pests on sage - this is how it works
During treatment, the infected cacti should be isolated from other plants to prevent further spread.
Fighting mealybugs effectively - tips & tricks
Mealybugs protect themselves with waxy shells that are reminiscent of white cotton balls. A woolly, white coating is created under high pressure of infestation. In order for the pest control to be successful, the tank must dissolve. The plan can succeed with alcohol or spirits. Simply dab individual mealybugs with a cotton swab. If larger areas have already formed, spray them with alcohol or lemon balm spirit.
If your cacti are in the greenhouse, winter garden or greenhouse, entrust the control of beneficial organisms. Above all, the Australian ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) likes to eat mealybugs for its life.
Dick-mouthed weevils attack outdoor cacti
Planted in the bed, hardy Cacti are often plagued by large, black beetles. Dick-mouthed weevils and their larvae feed on the roots and shoots alike. A clear symptom on the epidermis is typical pigeon pests. Nematodes have proven to be an effective control agent. The microscopic roundworms are used with the irrigation water or in the form of bait traps for adult weevils.
Tips
Thanks to their hard skin, desert cacti are mostly spared from aphids. However, this does not apply to Leaf cactiwhose fleshy leaves are a favorite food for the lice. As soon as you get the green, black or white pests into the eye fall, they should be combated with the classic soft soap solution. The home remedy is so successful that it is now also available ready-made in specialist shops.
