How to deal with Spider Eggs in Plant Soil?
Spider eggs in plant soil are very common and cause damage to your plants. Thus, to keep plants healthy and safe from diseases and pests, most gardeners look out for pest infestations or eliminate spider eggs and any other signs of damage on leaves and stems.
However, the spider eggs in plant soil are more harmful than any other pests that you know of. Not many know that these tiny white eggs in the soil cannot only be a danger to your plants but also to yourself.
Spider eggs in plant soil are generally white in color and they are not that easy to get rid of. These eggs forage on soil moisture and nutrients that they take away from the plants. On top of that, on hatching, they produce venomous spiders that may be dangerous for you too. Thus, let us now quickly get into how to get rid of spider eggs in the soil, and what to do with them.
How to Identify Spider Eggs in Plant Soil?
Identifying spider eggs in plant soil is easy as they appear in white clusters with very tiny spiders in a bunch. One can definitely search for answers on how to get rid of them on the internet, but here we have more details for you in one place.
What does Spider Mite Infestation look like?
We can help you identify spider eggs if you are wondering the same. Typically, spider eggs look like tiny creamy white round sacs. Inside these, there are spider eggs that are bundled together.
While a single such sac is tiny and hard to spot, spiders lay them at a go. Therefore, if you look closely, you can easily find them clustered together. Once these eggs are laid in the soil, do you know how long spider eggs take to hatch? This duration is 2 to 3 weeks, and if you do not want spider mites to invest in your plants and harm your home, you need to take action before that.
1What Are Spider Mites?
If you do not take care of the spider eggs in plant soil, they will hatch into spider mites in 2 to 3 weeks. These tiny bugs will attack your plants directly. So, to avoid these, look out for signs like spider webs on your plants. These are most probably an indication of the presence of spider eggs or spider mites, and an answer to “How do I know if I have spider mites in my soil?”
If you are wondering “Do spider mites live in potting soil,” then the answer is that they do not. However, you cannot stop your search there. These pests usually live on the underside of leaves. And at this place, they can go undetected for weeks. If not taken care of, these tiny mites can potentially explode into an infestation as they can thrive in dry and warm conditions.
2How Can You Control Spider Eggs in Plant Soil?
Now that you are aware of the harm spider eggs in plant soil can bring to your soil, let us move on to the most crucial question. How do you get rid of spider eggs in plant soil? We have both chemical and non-chemical for the same. Let us take a look at the non-chemical solutions first.
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Non-Chemical Solutions to Control Spider Eggs in Plant Soil
If you do not want to use a chemical solution straight away, try using the following ways to eliminate spider eggs:
Watering Schedule Alteration
Spiders are typically known to lay eggs in moist, inactive soils, and stable climatic conditions. In case you notice any signs of spider eggs in pots or gardens, altering the watering schedule is the best solution. The best way to do so is to use the starvation method. In this method, you only need to water the plants when the soil is dry.
Vacuum Cleaner
In case you can spot the spider eggs, using a vacuum cleaner can come in handy. However, while you do so, put on protective clothing. This is to ensure that there is no exposure to poisonous spiders if the eggs have already hatched. Also, once you collect this trash, freeze or burn it to kill the eggs in the bag.
Hydraulic Pressure
Using a jet nozzle for watering is another way to get rid of spider eggs. The high pressure from it will certainly wash out spiders and eggs from the soil. That being said, this may not completely help you get rid of them. Also, there is a danger of them contaminating the nearby areas. Alternatively, you can even decide to remove the plant completely from the contaminated soil and replant it in a healthy one.
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Chemical Solutions to Control Spider Eggs in Plant Soil
In case, you are unable to get rid of spider eggs in plant soil using the above non-chemical methods, these chemical solutions will come to your rescue:
Pesticides
You can readily make use of industrially-manufactured insecticides or pesticides to get rid of any spider eggs in plant soil. However, while using them, remember that these may also adversely affect your plants. Make sure to choose only those that are suitable for the plants and will not cause root burns or disrupt their chemical metabolism. We would also advise you against using them on edible plants to prevent any harm to your body.
Rubbing Alcohol
Another great solution is rubbing alcohol. You can either directly rub it on the plant’s surface or dilute it to add it to the soil.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is another great solution to alter the soil acidity and get rid of eggs and larvae present in it. However, before you apply it to the soil, make sure to dilute it. This will ensure that there is no damage to the plant.
Neem Oil
Lastly, you can make use of neem oil. Not only can this solution get rid of spider eggs by disrupting their life cycle but it is also harmless to humans and animals.
3Final Thoughts
So, this is all you need to know about spider eggs in plant soil, and how to get rid of them before they hatch into spider mites. While dealing with the eggs, always make sure to protect yourself as these are not only harmful to the plants but to humans, as well.
References
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