A plant in wildlife has a huge number of pests that want to feast on green spaces. Growing flowers in pots is easier, as prevention and care of crops are simplified. And yet they are susceptible to parasites. One of the most common can be considered soil mites. They harm the underground part of gladioli, tulips and lilies, damaging the bulb.
A necessary part of the ecosystem
That's what they are in nature. Soil mites live permanently in the soil. They are in the garden and in the field, in the garden. They are essentially scavengers that prevent soil from rotting. But where space is limited, and the reproduction of ticks is not controlled in any way, they begin to feed on what they have. Namely, they begin to eat the living parts of the plant. Of the varieties that are grown in a pot, bulbs are most often attacked.
Description of the pest
Root soil mite is an amazing creature. It is in the soil all the time, but almost no one notices it. But if your bulbous plant dies, then you should shake out the soil and carefully examine it. It is easy to recognize by its appearance. This is a light, translucent insect.
He is very hardy and does not die without food and moisture. Under unfavorable conditions, his metabolic processes only slow down. But under the right conditions, they come to life again and begin to feed on roots and bulbs.
The soil mite has very strong jaws. Therefore, insects easily damage the tissue of the bulb. In the vacated space, they lay eggs. Gloxinia, hyacinths and orchids are most susceptible to infection.
Signs of defeat
Soil mites in indoor flowers do not start very often. In the garden they can be found in beds with garlic or onions, they do not change their preferences in pots. Plants are harmed not only by adult insects, but also by their larvae. How can you tell if a green pet needs help?
First of all, the leaves begin to change. They warp, some areas change color. Fresh soil, which you calcined or treated with potassium permanganate before planting, cannot be infected with a tick. Usually this is a problem of pots in which the soil has not changed for a long time. Therefore, do not forget about the rules of care.
If you have ever seen a bulb, from which only one shell remained, then you will forever remember how a soil mite works. Damaged bulbs begin to mold and rot. The more time has passed since the bulb was chosen by insects, the stronger the damage. Gradually, it loses its elasticity. You can see passages and cavities in it. Gradually, only one shell remains from it. In it you can find larval skins and excrement. You can usually see insects in various stages of development.
Where does the problem come from
The ideal condition for the appearance of soil mites in indoor plants is warm and waterlogged soil. Therefore, if you tend to flood the pots, then the risk of ticks increases several times. Ticks quickly crawl from one pot to another. Therefore, infected plants must be destroyed or isolated from he althy ones. A good way out of this situation would be immediate treatment, as well as parallel prophylaxis among he althy plants. The easiest way to get a mite in your collection is to buy bulbs or substrate in the store that already have a parasite.
Prevention measures
It is much more important to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. This also applies to soil mites. You can see a photo of this pest in our article. If you do not look for it specifically, then you can easily miss tiny insects in the ground. They usually settle where bulbous plants have been planted. And if a new hyacinth suddenly gets sick, you should dig up the bulb and examine it carefully.
But that's about wrestling. what to do in order toto prevent pests from harming your green pets? Let's look at the basic rules.
Simple rules
- Don't buy if new plants are suspicious. When buying bulbs, spread the scales a little. Parasites can be easily seen and the extent of damage can also be assessed. If the seller does not allow you to inspect the bulbs, it is better not to buy them.
- If you use your own plant material, it must be dried after assembly. Bulbs of tulip, hyacinth and other popular plants must be dried for 16 hours at a temperature of +40 degrees.
- Planted plants need to be watered with a decoction of chamomile with a temperature of +35 degrees. It will be fatal to parasites.
- Before storing the bulbs, both bulbs and storage must be dried. The room needs to be pickled, and the bulbs should be treated with special substances from fungus and mites.
- Storage temperature and humidity should be reduced. The higher the indicators, the better the conditions for the development of insects. Check the seeds regularly so that if you see the slightest sign of damage, you can take immediate action. It is best to remove the onion and put separately. If you do not see ticks, then you can observe its condition. If it worsens, it is best to burn the bulb.
How to get rid of pests
If the lesion is minor, and you noticed it on time, then there should be no problems with treatmentarise, especially if you know how to get rid of a soil mite.
- The easiest way is a soap solution. They water the ground and rub the leaves.
- The second most popular, but not effective, is the infusion of garlic on the water. Usually, the procedures are repeated until the complete disappearance of all symptoms of the disease.
- UV lamp can be used for indoor plants. It is enough to keep it on for two minutes a couple of times a week, and all pests will completely disappear.
- Nettle also helps to fight pests. To do this, take 0.7 kg of nettle and pour 5 liters of boiling water. Place the vessel in a warm place. After five days, strain, dilute 1:10 and water under the root.
In severe defeat
And how to deal with soil mites, if the number of affected areas is already large? Folk remedies can no longer cope, it is necessary to apply more intensive measures of influence. Treatment with systemic insecticides will help eliminate all parasites. Moreover, this tool acts for a long time, so it manages to destroy even the future generation. Best suited "Aktellik" or "Neoron". Do not forget that insects get used to the drugs used, and therefore they should be alternated. Usually, systemic insecticides can save the plant even in the most advanced cases. And only if the bulb began to rot due to a large amount of damage, it becomes impossible to save it.
