Recognize and fight spider mites

The pest

Spider mites are widespread pests with more than a thousand species worldwide, only two of which are of importance in our latitudes. These are the:

• Common spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
• Fruit tree spider mite (Panonychus ulmi)

The oval mites, which are around 0.5 millimeters in size, are yellow-green, brown or, especially in winter, bright red in color.

The damage

Spider mites prefer to settle on the underside of the leaf hydrangea at. As a result, they are often only noticeable when the leaves are covered with a fine white web in the event of severe infestation. The mites prick the plant tissue in order to drink the plant sap. As a result, light green spots become visible on the upper side of the leaf, which over time enlarge and flow together. That Hydrangea foliage turns yellow and dried up. The animals protect themselves with fine white webs that look very similar to spider webs.

prevention

Will the Hydrangea in winter Infested by spider mites, it is usually too warm. The animals prefer dry air, so you should keep the plants in winter too water regularly. Make sure that the hydrangea is in good condition before moving to winter storage. Healthy and strong plants have a natural protection against harmful insects.

Check the underside of the leaves cyclically with a magnifying glass. The animals are so tiny that you can see them with a bare eye often cannot recognize. If the characteristic webs appear, the infestation is usually well advanced.

Combat

When fighting the pests, follow these steps:

• Shower infested plants with a sharp jet.
• Since spider mites don't like moisture, repeat this procedure every few days.
• Lower the room temperature or the Hydrangeas place cooler.

Is this not enough:

• Cut off infected parts of the plant and dispose of them in household waste or burn them.
• Treat hydrangea with a special pesticide.

Since the mites are mainly located on the underside of the leaves, it is important not only to wet the plant's surface but also to spray all of the leaves thoroughly from below.

Tips & Tricks

Plant protection sticks that are stuck into the ground are good prevention. Over a period of months, they release an active ingredient that is absorbed by the hydrangea. This gives the hydrangea excellent protection against pest infestation.