Spider mites on roses: how to deal with chemicals and folk remedies
Roses are a flowering garden decoration that needs regular care. What to do if a spider mite has settled on your favorite roses, how to deal with a pest and save delicate flowers? The spider mite is a dangerous pest for plants, as it uses flower juices as food, roses begin to lose strength, the growth rate slows down, and the buds fall off. Consider ways to deal with the pest and determine the first signs of infection.
Description of the spider mite
Spider mite is a microscopic pest that can cause great harm to a cultivated plant. The pest is an insect with an oval body, 0.5 mm long.It is difficult to notice such an insect with the naked eye, so the disease is often detected already at an advanced stage.
The spider mite colonizes on the plant in colonies, the pest can be found on the back of the leaves, on which a barely noticeable cobweb is formed, under which the larvae and adults of the spider mite live.
Females are larger than males, larvae, unlike adults, have 6 legs, not 8. The color of the pest is different: from light green to brown. Under a microscope, brown spots can be seen on the body of the tick. The bottom of the insect is flat, while the top is convex.
The parasite overwinters on the plant, hibernating during the cold season. In the spring, with the advent of heat, the pest comes to life and resumes active life on the affected plant. On houseplants, the mite parasitizes all seasons.
Danger to the plant
Feeding on the juices of plants, ticks cause great harm to plantings of vegetables, fruit trees, flower beds. The plant loses vitality, the growth rate slows down, leaves begin to fall off, buds and fruits are deformed.
The pest is able to multiply quickly and move to neighboring plants. If you do not take timely measures to protect roses from ticks, you can lose some of your favorite bushes in a short time.
Causes of pest appearance on flowers
Spider mites attack roses, usually by moving from neighboring plants. The tick is especially quickly transferred in the garden space in windy, dry weather.
Birds that feed on the voracious parasite can reduce the chance of infection.
The tick is able to be partially washed away by rain, the insect is inactive on cold, rainy cloudy days.
Roses are whimsical plants that need regular weeding and sanitary pruning. It is known that in neglected beds overgrown with weeds and dead vegetation, the risk of disease outbreaks and pest infestation is high. Rose bushes must be cleaned of faded inflorescences and dead shoots.
Signs of infection
Main signs of spider mite infestation of roses:
- The plant slows down growth.
- The leaves of flowers are covered with white or black dry spots.
- There is a web on the back of the leaf plate.
- Buds and leaves fall.
Every gardener should regularly inspect the plants in their area for signs of pest infestation. When the first signs of the disease are detected, it is recommended to take immediate action.Severe infestations require the use of insecticides.
How to deal with spider mites on a rose?
If the spider mite was detected at an early stage of the disease, you can use folk remedies, if the area of infection is large, larvae appeared on the leaves, and roses began to drop buds, you can’t do without the use of chemicals.
Prophylactic treatment of flower beds should be done if plants attacked by spider mites were found in nearby areas. It is worth remembering that this insidious parasite is not afraid of cold weather and endures winters on the affected plant; in spring, the insect awakens with the first thaws.
Chemicals
Infected plants can be treated with insecticides. Consider modern means of the chemical industry to combat insects on roses, in particular with spider mites.
Fitoverm
Strong broad-spectrum insecticide, belongs to the latest generation of biological preparations. "Fitoverm" is safe for people and can be used on vegetable and fruit plantations.
Produced in liquid form, the active ingredient is aversectin-C. After applying the drug on roses, the spider mite disappears on the third day. "Fitoverm" is a biodegradable agent that does not accumulate in plant fruits, belongs to the 3rd hazard class, is non-toxic.
Aktellik
Chemical insecticide of non-systemic action. That is, the active substance of the drug acts only on insect pests, it does not enter the plant, therefore, it does not accumulate in the fruits. "Aktellik" refers to long-acting drugs, excluding the possibility of re-infection.
The active ingredient is pirimifos-methyl. After treatment, the tick leaves the plant within two hours. The drug can only be used outdoors, the product is toxic, not suitable for treating plants indoors.
Apollo
Contact insecticide with ovocidal action, destroys larvae and adults of spider mites on roses, prevents their further reproduction. Does not harm treated plants, affecting only the pest. The active substance is clofentezin. The drug is safe for bees and humans.
Differs in a long period of action, it is enough to carry out one treatment of plants per season. Apollo is available as a liquid concentrate that must be diluted with water.
Floromite
Powerful insecticide with enteric-contact action. The active substance - biphenazate, affects all stages of development of the spider mite. Safe for humans, bees and treated plants. Ticks die within three days of treatment.
Floromite is available as a liquid concentrate to be diluted with water.
Folk remedies
You can get rid of voracious parasites with the help of folk remedies. Such drugs are environmentally friendly, quite effective. Severe infestation will require multiple treatments.
Infusion of garlic
Ready-made garlic extract can be purchased at a pharmacy, it is enough to dilute the product in water and spray infected roses with a spray bottle.
Infusion of garlic can also be prepared independently, at home from cloves. To do this, the garlic is peeled and rubbed with a garlic press at the rate of 1 head per 1 rose bush. Crushed garlic is poured with warm water in a small amount and insisted for three days. Then the concentrate is filtered, diluted with water and poured into a spray bottle.
The remedy can be used as a prophylactic, the first treatment is recommended in early spring.
Soap solution
Laundry soap is used in gardening as a remedy for a large number of insect pests. The soap is crumbled with a coarse grater and dissolved in water. On a diseased plant, the concentrate can be applied with a sponge or with a spray bottle.
The sprayed product is left on the leaves for several hours, and then the bushes are rinsed with clean water.
Dandelion infusion
Dandelion root pomace is a time-tested remedy for dealing with spider mites. Dandelion roots are washed and grated, soaked in warm water for 48 hours. Then the product is filtered and poured into a spray bottle.
For greater efficiency, the treatment is carried out several times, after spraying, the roses are sprinkled with wood ash or mustard powder.
How to prevent it?
To protect roses from insect pests, preventive measures are taken to protect them:
- Sanitary pruning of bushes three times a season.
- Maintain optimal humidity levels.
- Foliar top dressing with iodine and brilliant green solution.
- Regular inspection of plantings for signs of disease and infection.
The best way to deal with spider mites is prevention. Roses are whimsical plants that need periodic insecticide treatment. It is especially important to spray the flowers before the first flowering, during the budding period. They use long-acting drugs, carry out preventive treatments with folk remedies several times during the season.
Please note that any selected agent must be applied to the sheet plates on both sides.
The main habitat of the spider mite is the inside of the leaf.
Recommended
Aphids on roses: how to process, how to deal with drugs and folk remedies

How to treat roses when aphids appear: the most effective chemicals and folk remedies. Causes and symptoms of damage. Preventive actions.
Spider mites on raspberries: how to deal with drugs and folk remedies

Describes how to deal with spider mites on raspberries, what chemicals, biologics and folk remedies to use to get rid of the pest.
Spider mites on currants: how to deal with drugs and folk remedies

Different ways of dealing with spider mites on currants help to effectively destroy the pest. Insect control helps to maintain the crop and the he alth of the bushes.