Natural Remedies for Spider Mites on Lemon Trees

Natural Predators

• Insects, such as the praying mantis, green lacewings and lady beetles, prey on spider mites, offering you the most natural way possible to get rid of the problem. These insects help maintain low densities of the mites, although spider mite populations may increase from fall through spring during dry weather. You may need further remedies to control the increased population. Another option includes releasing species of predator mites that feast specifically on spider mites.

Sprays

• Plant-based oil sprays help suffocate the mites. Soap sprays or sulphur that you wet first and spray on the plant also may get rid of the pests. Watch for signs of mite attacks as this allows you to apply the spray as soon as you see a problem. Dry conditions, especially in the winter when humidity is lower, may cause red spider mites to spin fine webbing over leaves, a sure sign a major infestation is in the making. A spray of canola oil mixed with water helps kill the mites. Pepper spray, made from cayenne pepper, water and dish soap, also helps rid your lemon trees of the pests.

Soap and Water

• A strong spray of water helps dislodge spider mites from the tree. Nozzles with a jet setting work best, since the stream of water is strong enough to knock the pests off the leaves and onto the ground. Spraying jets of water underneath the foliage helps remove mites that are hiding and feeding on the underside of the leaves. A mixture of dishwashing soap applied to the leaves every five or six days also helps rid the tree of mites.

Indoor Plants

• Spider mites thrive on dry conditions, so keeping the humidity as high as possible helps keep spider mites away from lemon trees growing indoors. Removing and placing affected leaves in a bag, and sealing the bag before disposal helps keep the mites from moving to a different plant. Vacuuming up the mites with a small hand-held cleaner also may help get rid of the bugs, especially if you place the vacuum bag in the freezer to kill the mites before disposing of the bag. Another option includes soaking a few cotton balls with rubbing alcohol and wiping them on the leaves. You may need to apply the rubbing alcohol over a period of several weeks before the mites finally disappear altogether.