What kills spider mite eggs? They spread so fast. I hose down my garden to get rid of the adults, but I don’t want the eggs to hatch and cause more problems.
Geri Johnson, Honolulu
You’re right; spider mites do take over a garden quickly. I don’t know what you’re growing, but I can tell you that some plants are at higher risk than others. For example, mites love miniature roses, strawberries, bananas, begonias, and mint.
And if you want to know an astonishing statistic, female spider mites can lay 300 eggs in a few weeks. That’s why these pests get out of control quickly.
For a quick reference guide on how to get rid of mites and to see what kills spider mite eggs, take a look at this article: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-rid-of-spider-mites/
In the meantime, you’re already taking care of an important step to protect your plants. Keeping them watered keeps the mite population down. Mites prefer a dry environment.
You can also spray the plants with a mixture of one part water to one part rubbing alcohol. Make sure to get underneath the leaves. Don’t worry, this evaporates quickly and won’t harm your garden.
Another solution is to use neem oil or even simple dishwashing detergent mixed with water. The article I mentioned explains the exact proportions and how to apply both products. You will have to repeat the treatments a few times to get all the mites.
Finally, your local garden center may have a selection of predatory mites. If you turn these little bugs loose on your infested plants, they will eat all the bad spider mites. Once the bad bugs are gone, the predators will cannibalize themselves out of existence.