How To GET RID of Spider Mites & Prevent Spider Mites - EASY Process With Insecticidal Soap & Neem

[@laurenjohnson5880]

Really good points here about the webbing being waterproof and needing to really get in there and remove the stuff, I personally find that the gloved hand method of rubbing the spray into the leaves works best too :) Also in bad cases, dunk that thing in a bucket of soapy water, yes it works!

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks for the tips!

[@austinjk24]

I use the same exact method, works great! I call it the Spray and pray method! ...Spray then Pray the spider mites don’t come back lol great videos thank you !

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Haha

[@kathybridges3343]

I had the worst time with fungus gnats. I had to repot all my plants, and was starting to get them back and you said that you bottom water your plants and it works. And it did! What a difference. Thank you.

[@jackiel8104]

I've just seen a tip about fungus knats - always put a 1 - 2 inch layer of perlite on top of the soil. This dries very quickly & the annoying gnats can't lay their eggs. I've not tried it yet, but intend to when repotting next spring.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Great! I did a video on mosquito bits tea that has solved my problem like a charm

[@rashedahh6641]

How long do you sit your plants in water, when bottom watering? I have one that seems to not drink water that way and it's one that looks molding after top watering unless the dirt us mixed with mosquito bits

[@DannyTillotson]

Yellow Sticky fly traps work like a dream too

[@JMathes-sw3zt]

I have found on the outdoor bushes, I just spray with soapy water every 3 days for a week or so. Then I keep an eye out. Seems to work well!

[@jamluxx]

Just did this almost 2 weeks ago for spider mites on my Calathea and it 100% worked! I used a soft makeup brush instead of rubbing leaves with my hands and my shower to spray the plant down 👌🏻

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Nice!

[@audraharding9028]

I love your videos, Ashley! I was never really into houseplants until I started watching your videos. You have taught me the names of the plants, how to care for them, and everything in between! Now I stroll through Home Depot, Lowes, the local nurseries around the greater Atlanta area, naming the plants as I go. My house is full of beautiful plants. I'm obsessed and love my new hobby! Thank you so much and keep up the great work!!

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

That’s lovely! Thanks for sharing Audra! 💚🤗

[@christopherwelsh6665]

Thank you so much for sharing your methods against spider mites. I have had so many recurring issues with evil and malicious spider mites. Your method is hard core, and it sounds to me like a fantastic resource. 👍👍

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks Christopher!

[@rhondafisher72]

Great to actually see someone treating the plants step by step. Great video, thank you.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks Rhonda!

[@erintrent1523]

I also make sure my plants don't touch, which saved me a lot of heartache when I discovered mealy bugs on one of my succulents since I did not find any on the plants around it.

[@tinamarieussery3063]

Thanks knock on wood my problem is figus nats and i fixed it with appying cinnamon to my soil monthly

[@DannyTillotson]

Yellow Sticky fly traps work great for fungas nats

[@loribadgero1035]

I wasn’t sure of the best way to use this product. Thank you! Please, also, see the Ohio Gardener’s channel about making Neem compost tea. Neem comes in a cake, as an additive kind of mulch to add to soil before planting. You can make a tea from the cake. I am not sure of any oil content when making the tea, but you can flush pots and spray it on plants. If there are any mites that have burrowed into pots, this might help. Thank you again for sharing your technique!😊❤

[@samanthakarlainarhoads4091]

Important consideration: Insecticidal soap actually doesn't have the compounds to kill spider mites because spider mites aren't actually insects. They're arachnids. That's why spraying the insecticidal soap alone is ineffective for you. It sounds like your hands-on scrubbing/removal of the mites with water is what is actually working for you. I'd definitely recommend ditching the insecticidal soap because it's a bit of a waste of money & chemicals (unless you're also battling true insect pests). Neem oil or hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol might be worthwhile replacements.

[@mangomariel]

Could be that the brand just have that name, but still work. Most people think arachnids are insects. And soap itself works on many small bugs, including mites, I think it breaks away their shell or something. But definitely check the spray first to see if it actually works for mites.

[@KerryRussellRN]

It never occurred to me to scrub the leaves…very very smart!

[@desereesantillanes-torrez6823]

I started using a homemade mixture that I got from Liqui-Dirt's KZbin channel. It's worked with one treatment! I did re-treat it a week later. It works for most pest!

[@desereesantillanes-torrez6823]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5uQf32geq99bLc Here's the link to the video.

[@Karamelbar20]

I used that too! Worked like a charm!!!

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Awesome!

[@leosautreuil9715]

i just got rid of the thrips on my plants but i’ll make sure to use your method to prevent them next time! thank you!! 🌱💚

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Ah these pests are a menace. Best of luck!

[@leosautreuil9715]

@@LifewithAshleyAnita thank you!!

[@fiona4228]

This is very helpful advice. Thanks, Ashley!

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Aw you’re welcome Fiona!

[@Goldiibug]

I just realized a palm I have has developed spider mites 😕 This video came at just the right time.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Hope it helps!

[@sarahp5437]

The only thing that ENDED mites for me after over a year of dealing with them was FOOD GRADE DE 😬

[@pd9094]

Interesting! Did you sprinkle it on the soil ... or make a solution and spray it on the plants?

[@marieclark4609]

Hi Ashley👋 well thank you for the help always enjoy it when you show what works for you well you really gave some good tips and I really appreciate that thank you for this video

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks Marie!

[@marthamiriam8983]

This is an awesome informative video. I like to add Dawn dish soap (a lot I’m heavy handed) and concentrated neem oil and warm water to my insecticidal soap store bought bottle when I run and I don’t have money to keep buying store ready to use. I find it works. I love this method but consistency is key.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks for the tips Martha!

[@vaniawhitfield6486]

Hello sweet girl. Hope you have great weekend!, I have about 600 plants inside

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Wow!!!

[@hotsauce0606]

I got aphids but damn Ashley this a lot of work! My basil and pepper plants are so fragile I’m reluctant to spray them down

[@LulaMae21]

Watching this again as my poor philodendron fuzzy petiole is struggling with an infestation I didn't catch while dealing with sick pets. Whew!

[@skyangelthefan]

Spider 🕷 popping out of my nursery pots that I have bought from Home Depot had me scream and my dog came to my rescue and stomped on the spider ;(. I use Captain Jack’s and as soon as I come home, I empty the nursery dirt on the garbage spray Captain Jack’s as a just in case than repot in new souls and I have not had any problems. 🤞

[@Hello_Fuckers0]

I just used insecticidal soap for spider mites on my alocasias. All 4 on my kitchen plant shelf got them all at the same time...none have returned, it's been 2 weeks today. They're staying in quarantine for at least 4 more

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Sounds like what you did definitely worked!

[@Hello_Fuckers0]

@@LifewithAshleyAnita I'm just lucky they didn't spread to my other plants! Keeping an eye out for them on everything else now lol

[@lorirober2536]

Excellent, encouraging video--thank you much!

[@cindyvan635]

Great info thanks so much for your help in fighting pests!!! ❤🤗🌱

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks Cindy!

[@1101naomi]

I use to wash off my plants w/my own insecticidal soap every time I watered them but then I injured my hand and that became too difficult so I sprayed them down with just rubbing alcohol. It kills the bugs in the same way and it hasn’t hurt my plants at all. I had one plant with spider mites and I sprayed that baby every day for a week just to make sure. Lol

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Thanks for the tips!

[@deniseb2571]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@cocobrwngl]

This was very helpful. Thanks so much.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Aw I’m so glad!

[@PruAlexis]

I just noticed webbing on the surface of the soil and even saw a spider. But there are no webs on the leaves. This makes me think maybe it's not mites but regular spiders instead. What do you suggest for that? I don't want to spray my plant with bug spray.

[@KerryRussellRN]

Thank you….btw you are very pretty.

[@Jess_Smith0903]

How can I treat delicate plants against spider mites? I just found out that my string of hearts has them. I got them as cuttings so they are still getting adjusted and are quite fragile still. I feel like even spraying them would be too harsh. Any help would be appreciated!

[@saraheaster8414]

If the plant is small and delicate I know some people manually remove pests using sticky tape wrapped around their finger and it’s worked for me with thrips. Then you can go in with an insecticide spray and gently work it onto the leaves using an old makeup brush. Hope this helps in some way 🙂

[@Jess_Smith0903]

@@saraheaster8414 what a great idea!! Thank you so much!! Is it ok if insecticile soap goes on the soil? Since the S.O.H sits all around the soil, a lot would be sprayed over soil and therefore get absorbed. Worried if that will be detrimental to the health of the plant.

[@saraheaster8414]

@@Jess_Smith0903 I’ve never had any issues with the spray I’ve been using going onto the soil as far as I can tell. Baby Bio house plant bug killer has been my go-to here in the UK. The only problems I’ve had have been the soil staying damp on top for too long after spraying (especially in winter) but now I set the plant down in front of a fan to help the insecticide dry which seems to have been working great for me.

[@Jess_Smith0903]

@@saraheaster8414 wow Sarah! You’ve brought in a bunch of great tips! Thank you so very much for taking the time!!

[@sharonholmes2470]

Try getting rid of them on a "burrows tail." No pressure sprayer will work here. You'll have no plant left. I decided to use DE and it only took 2 treatments.

[@thewilsontribe8]

Thank you 😊

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

You’re very welcome!

[@succulentobsessions7594]

I heard that you can use tea tree oil in place of the Neem oil. I haven't tried it yet but I will let you all know the outcome.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Nice!

[@tracys_plants]

I’ve started using SNS 209 organic systemic with every watering and it seems to have gotten my mealybug issue under control. 🤞🏻.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

That’s great!

[@billybailey4593]

I've only ever delt with spider mites, knock on wood, they are the worst though. I' m losing a Hindu rope that I just cant seem to kill the spider mites on it. I might need to dunk the whole plant in soap solution but I feel like i might have lost this battle.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

I recently did the dunking in water with dawn with a calathea and it worked like a charm!

[@KimberlyDurrMusic]

Hey Ashley how are you doing love? I completely agree with you about taking the time to checking your plants more often, I just share some of my plant vlog on here a day ago, gurlll I have to always check my plants because I have a big collection and one of my mammoth elephant ears gave me a wonderful surprise, I am over the moon excited. I use some of the same stuff. I’m grateful I don’t have much a problem now because like you said, once you continue to keep treating your plants, you will have less problems. But at first I had to deal with spider mites and which I was able to get rid of fairly quickly but, Gurlll I’m glad I caught it. Fungus gnats was a pain , but I got rid of those as well. Also I sent you a Dm last month, didn’t know if you saw it. I resend it yesterday. Thanks so much love🤎🤎🤎.

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Aw thanks, I’ll take a look. I have trouble keeping up with Instagram messages

[@Stephanie.vu_]

How would you do this for a 6’ fiddle leaf fig? Been battling spider mites for months 😭💔

[@LifewithAshleyAnita]

Hmm, I’d take it outside if possible and try to wash it down and spray it. Best of luck!

[@Stephanie.vu_]

@@LifewithAshleyAnita it’s soooo heavy 😅😅

[@crystalcorl9872]

Lift that sucker into your bathtub. And then get busy soaping let it sit and then turn the shower on to wash off!

[@codielane9787]

You never said what to look for when searching your plqnts with that light. I mean besides webbing, how can you tell you have spider mites? Thanks!🙂

[@elliehudson5977]

I never knew how to look for the actual living mites, but a few months ago I saw someone comment under a post and say look for things that look like moving crushed black pepper, after that it was pretty easy. You can also get handheld microscopes so if you’re suspicious you can confirm whether or not you have them!

[@codielane9787]

@@elliehudson5977 thanks!

[@laurenjohnson5880]

The spider mites are very tiny and red

[@TravisHelps]

Boring