Content
- Spider mites on the hydrangea - what helps?
- The pest
- The damage picture
- prevention
- fight
- Tips & Tricks
Spider mites are very persistent pests
Spider mites on the hydrangea - what helps?
Spider mites infest the hydrangea mostly when the plants are overwintered in the house. The tiny mites prefer dry air and can damage the hydrangea so badly that it even ends up. That is why rapid action is required in case of infestation.
The pest
Spider mites are widespread pests with more than thousands of species worldwide, of which only two are important in our latitudes. These are the:
The oval mites, about 0.5 millimeters in size, are yellow-green, brown or bright red in winter.
The damage picture
Spider mites settle preferentially on the leaf underside of the hydrangea. As a result, they often only appear when the leaves are covered by a fine white web in case of heavy infestation. The mites prick the plant tissue to drink the sap. As a result, light green patches become visible on the upper side of the leaves, which increase and merge over time. The foliage of the hydrangea turns yellow and dries up. The animals protect themselves by fine white webs, which look very similar to spider webs.
prevention
If the hydrangea is attacked by spider mites in winter, it is usually too warm. The animals prefer dry air, so they should be watered regularly even in winter. Make sure the hydrangea is in good condition before moving to winter storage. Healthy and vigorous plants have a natural protection against harmful insects.
Check the undersides of the leaves cyclically with a magnifying glass. The animals are so tiny that they are often invisible to the naked eye. If the characteristic webs are shown, the infestation is usually well advanced.
fight
Follow these steps to combat the pests:
Is not enough?
Since the mites are mostly on the underside of the leaf, it is important not only to wet the plant superficially but to spray all the leaves thoroughly from below.
Tips & Tricks
A good prevention are plant protection sticks, which are put into the earth. They give off for months an active ingredient, which is absorbed by the hydrangea. As a result, the hydrangea is excellently protected against pest infestation.