Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

How to Get Rid of Mites on Petunias Organically

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
How to Get Rid of Mites on Petunias Organically

How to Get Rid of Mites on Petunias Organically. Petunias (Petunia x hybrida) make showy additions to flowerbeds, hanging baskets and pots or containers. These plants technically grow as frost-tender perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, although most people treat them as annuals. Petunia pests include...

Petunias (Petunia x hybrida) make showy additions to flowerbeds, hanging baskets and pots or containers. These plants technically grow as frost-tender perennials in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, although most people treat them as annuals. Petunia pests include spider mites, tiny, eight-legged spider relatives that look like tiny, moving dots to the naked eye. Mite feeding damage first appears as a light stippling on leaves, then leaves develop a bronze color, turn yellow or red and drop off the plant. You may also see fine webbing on the leaves.
Things You'll Need
Hose with spray nozzle
Sharp, clean scissors
Bag
Neem oil
Spray bottle or garden sprayer
Water the petunias deeply whenever the soil 1/2 inch below the surface feels dry to the touch if the petunias are growing in a container or whenever soil about 1 inch below the surface feels dry if the petunias are growing in the ground. Mites are most problematic on drought-stressed plants.
Pinch or cut off portions of the petunia that are severely infested with mites if the infestation is largely concentrated in these areas. Bag and dispose of the infested portions you remove. This pruning is particularly beneficial where mites have spun webs.
Spray the petunias down with a forceful spray of water every few days to knock these pests off and alleviate the dusty conditions mites prefer. Make sure the spray reaches leaf undersides, as mites tend to cluster on lower leaf surfaces.
Mix 5 tablespoons of neem oil with 1 gallon of water. You can also use another horticultural oil. While most oils use this dilution rate, check the label for specifics. You can also use another type of horticultural oil, if you prefer.
Put the mixture in a spray bottle or garden sprayer and spray the petunia with the mixture. Make sure you cover the plant's leaves thoroughly, though not to the point of runoff, and reach leaf undersides. The oil will only kill mites it directly contacts, so you may need to do this each week until the mites are under control.

Check out these related posts