It is important to identify and get rid of any Spider Mites insects living in your hydroponics system.

Insects such as spider mites can destroy your hydroponically grown produce. Spider mites like many pests can be terminated in several ways. The best way to avoid a spider mite infestation is by taking precautionary measures. Plants should be visually inspected once a week to see if there are any pests in your garden.

It is important to check under leaves, around the stems and in the growing medium or soil for signs of spider mites. If there are tiny holes in any of your plants or crops, this could be a sign that spider mites are lurking. If there is a large infestation then there will be webbing visible after a light misting of the plants’ leaves.

It is a good idea to take time, and find out how many of your plants are affected.

Determining the number of spider mites in your garden, the size of the area they cover, and the size of the infestation will give you an idea of how to eliminate them. Identifying the spider mites will be easier if you use a garden microscope, which will give you a better view of the tiny bugs.

Many people believe that using pesticides to get rid of spider mites in their hydroponic gardens is a good idea, however, pesticides are prohibited in hydroponic gardening and are rarely essential. Spider mites are not immune to hydroponically produced plants, however, they are more pest-resistant than plants cultivated on the soil. Plants grown in hydroponics are usually healthier than soil-grown plants because hydroponic plants are fed their exact nutritional requirements. Natural preventive measures against spider mites are used in most hydroponics systems.

Many hydroponic gardeners use a method of natural prevention called companion planting.

In companion planting crops are intermixed with plants that act as spider mite deterrents for the primary crop. For example, marigolds may be planted between rows of herbs in a hydroponic greenhouse. Spider mites will be turned off by the smell of the marigolds and will leave the garden.

Biological insect control is another method of pest management through the introduction of predator insects to eliminate spider mites. Controlling spider mites with enemy insects is a safe and non-poisonous method. Natural enemies will feast on the spider mites until there arenít enough for the predator to survive, then they will die off or leave in search of more food. Releasing predator insects into your hydroponics garden infestations of spider mites can be eliminated or, they can be avoided. There is no need to worry about predator insects because most will not harm your crops.

Your garden should also be able to support the predator insects.

Many biological insects will not survive if the temperature is too hot, or if there isnít a good source of water. Using non-toxic yellow sticky cards to protect your hydroponic vegetables from spider mites is another option. The cards can be used to keep track of spider mites and other microscopic insects. The bright yellow colour will attract the spider mites where they will adhere to the sticky surface.

The yellow cards are best for preventing the infestations of spider mites, but canít act alone in eliminating them. It is best to identify spider mites before their infestation grows too large, eliminating the spider mites with early detection will save your hydroponically grown produce.

What are the predators of the insect?

Predators. Beetles, true bugs, lacewings, flies, midges, spiders, wasps, and predatory mites are some of the arthropod predators of insects and mites. Insect predators can be found in all parts of the plant, including the underground regions, as well as neighbouring bushes and trees.

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