How to Get Rid of Mites in African Violets
Growers of African violets occasionally have to deal with house plant mites. These mites infest the plant and live their entire life cycle on them. The mites that are commonly found on African violets are either cyclamen mites or spider mites. They are difficult to see with the naked eye and most often appear as tiny, moving red dots. The first sign of their presence is a fine webbing appearing on the underside of the leaves. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Check for symptoms to identify the culprit. Symptoms of cyclamen mite infestation include: matted hair on leaves, distorted new growth and twisted, curling, brittle-looking or dying leaves. Symptoms of spider mite infestation are: stunted, yellow, curling or dying leaves, grey-colored new leaves, leaves that appear mottled or dusty, malformed flowers, flower buds that never bloom and webbing on the underside of leaves near where the stem meets the leaf.
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Isolate your African violet so that the mites don't spread any of your other plants. Be careful not to let them brush against any of them as you move them.
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Spray plant with appropriate insecticide. For cyclamen mites, treat the plant weekly for three weeks with 1 tsp. dienochlor mixed with 1 gallon of water. Or use dicofol as directed.
For spider mites, choose one of three options. Apply a mixture of 1/4 tsp. of 57 percent malathion per quart of warm water every two to three days, use an insecticidal soap as directed on label every two to three days or apply Neem oil for an organic alternative.
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Prune any dead or damaged leaves and flowers. New leaves may continue to grow in defective for a bit after the pests have been eradicated.
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Don't over-water your African Violet. Increase the humidity of the air around the plant and hang a pest strip near plants to prevent another infestation from occurring. Keep leaves clean and dry. Dust them regularly by brushing the leaves with a fine, dry paint brush. Do not use water to do this or it will leave permanent spots on the leaves.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't over-water your African Violet. The pests and fungi that like to live on them thrive in a very wet environment. Let the soil dry out between waterings.
Read all insecticide labels before use. Some may be toxic and harmful. Avoid skin contact.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit purple violet bouquet image by Alexander Potapov from Fotolia.com african violet #8 image by Igor Zhorov from Fotolia.com
