Roses are a blooming garden decoration that requires regular care. What to do if a spider mite has settled on your favorite roses, how to fight the 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. Let's look at ways to combat the pest and identify the first signs of infection.
Description of the spider mite
Spider mites are microscopic pests that can cause enormous damage to cultivated plants. The pest is an insect with an oval body, 0.5 millimeters long. It is difficult to notice such an insect with the naked eye, so the disease is often detected at an advanced stage.
Spider mites inhabit 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 larvae and adult spider mites live.
Females are larger than males; larvae, unlike adults, have 6 legs, not 8. The color of the pest varies: from light green to brown. Under a microscope, you can see brown spots on the tick's body. The lower part of the insect is flat, and the upper part is convex.
The parasite overwinters on the plant, going into hibernation during the cold season. In the spring, with the arrival of warmth, the pest comes to life and resumes active life on the affected plant. The mite parasitizes indoor plants all season long.
Danger to the plant
Feeding on plant juices, ticks cause enormous damage to plantings of vegetables, fruit trees, and flower beds. The plant loses its vitality, its growth rate slows down, leaves begin to fall, buds and fruits become deformed.
The pest is able to quickly multiply and spread 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.
Reasons for the appearance of the pest on flowers
Spider mites attack roses, usually by moving from neighboring plants. The tick is transported especially quickly into the garden space in windy, dry weather.
Birds that feed on the voracious parasite can reduce the likelihood of infection.
The mite is able to be partially washed off by rain; the insect is inactive on cold, rainy, cloudy days.
Roses are fastidious plants that require regular weeding and sanitary pruning. It is known that in neglected flower beds, overgrown with weeds and dead vegetation, the risk of disease outbreaks and pest infestation is high. Rose bushes must be cleared of faded inflorescences and dead shoots.
Signs of infection
The main signs of roses being infected by spider mites:
- The plant slows down its growth rate.
- The leaves of the flowers are covered with white or black dry spots.
- There is a cobweb on the back side of the leaf plate.
- Buds and leaves fall off.
Every gardener should regularly inspect the plants in his or her yard for signs of pest infestation. When the first signs of illness are detected, it is recommended to take immediate action. In case of severe infestation, the use of insecticides is required.
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 infestation is large, larvae have appeared on the leaves, and the roses have begun to drop their buds, the use of chemicals is indispensable.
Preventive treatment of flower beds must be done if plants that have been attacked by spider mites have been identified 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 the spring, the insect awakens with the first thaw.
Chemicals
Infected plants can be treated with insecticides.Let's consider modern means of the chemical industry to combat insects on roses, in particular spider mites.
"Fitoverm"
A potent insecticide with a wide spectrum of effects, it belongs to the latest generation of biological preparations. "Fitoverm" is safe for people and can be used on vegetable and fruit plantations.
Available in liquid form, the active ingredient is aversectin-S. After using the drug on roses, spider mites disappear on the third day. “Fitoverm” is a biodegradable product that does not accumulate in plant fruits, belongs to the 3rd hazard class, and is non-toxic.
"Aktellik"
Non-systemic chemical insecticide. That is, the active ingredient of the drug affects only insect pests, does not enter the plant, and therefore does not accumulate in the fruits. Actellik is a long-acting drug that eliminates the possibility of re-infection.
The active ingredient is pirimiphos-methyl. After treatment, the mite leaves the plant within two hours. The drug can only be used outdoors, the product is toxic and is not suitable for treating plants indoors.
"Apollo"
An ovocidal contact insecticide that destroys larvae and adults of spider mites on roses and prevents their further reproduction. Does not harm treated plants, affecting only the pest. The active ingredient is clofentesine. The drug is safe for bees and humans.
It has a long period of action; it is enough to carry out one treatment of plants per season. "Apollo" is available in the form of a liquid concentrate, which must be diluted with water.
"Floromite"
A potent insecticide with enteric contact action.The active ingredient, biphenazate, affects all stages of spider mite development. Safe for humans, bees and treated plants. Ticks die within three days after treatment.
Floromite is available in the form of a liquid concentrate, which must be diluted with water.
Folk remedies
You can get rid of voracious parasites using folk remedies. Such drugs are environmentally friendly and quite effective. In case of severe infestation, several treatments will be required.
Garlic infusion
Ready-made garlic extract can be purchased at a pharmacy; simply dilute the product in water and spray the infected roses with a spray bottle.
You can also prepare garlic infusion yourself, at home, from cloves. To do this, the garlic is peeled and crushed 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 left for three days. Then the concentrate is filtered, diluted with water and poured into a spray bottle.
The product can be used as a preventative; 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 crushed using a coarse grater and dissolved in water. The concentrate can be applied to a diseased plant with a sponge or using 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
Squeezing dandelion roots is a time-tested means of combating 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 its occurrence?
To protect roses from invasions of insect pests, preventive measures are taken to protect them:
- Sanitary pruning of bushes three times per season.
- Maintaining optimal humidity levels.
- Foliar feeding with iodine and brilliant green solution.
- Regular inspection of plantings for signs of disease and infestation.
The best way to combat spider mites is prevention. Roses are fastidious plants that require periodic treatment with insecticides. It is especially important to spray flowers before the first flowering, during the period of bud set. They use long-acting drugs and carry out preventive treatments with folk remedies several times during the season.
Please note that any selected product must be applied to the leaf plates on both sides.
The main habitat of spider mites is the inside of the leaf.
