Spider eggs in plant soil – Do they really appear a lot in your garden?
Growing healthy plants that produce a completely safe and nutrient-rich yield is a challenging endeavor that takes both your time and money. Pest and insect infestation is the most serious threat that can severely injure your crop.
Many gardeners are unaware that bugs not only attack your plants for food, but they can also lay their eggs in the soil of your plants. These eggs continue to scavenge the nutrients and moisture from your prized plants until they die altogether.
Even if the crop survives the nutrient deficiency, it will not be able to withstand the influx of tiny insects that will eventually hatch.
Spiders, like other insects, are particularly harmful to your plants. Take action as soon as you notice spider eggs in your garden to prevent them from maturing. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Spider eggs in plant soil
When spider mites mate and seek cover on plants to lay eggs, the spider eggs can cause havoc in less than a week. For these bugs, the hot and dry weather is ideal. It takes only 5 days for the eggs to hatch and the adult to emerge.
As a result, you should act quickly to protect your plants before they evolve and go through the entire life cycle again. Otherwise, severe infestations would develop, putting your garden or houseplants at risk.
Make a change in the way you water your plants.
Spider eggs must be kept in a humidity-controlled environment. The spider eggs will not dry out as a result of this.
If the plants you’re planting can withstand drought, only water them when the soil is completely dry.
When the earth is dry, spider eggs are immediately destroyed. However, pay attention to the type of plants you’re cultivating because some of them require a lot of water.
The more hardy plants, on the other hand, will be able to resist the period of complete withering without harm.
Irregular watering also helps to reduce the number of insects that spiders eat. The spider’s egg laying will be slowed and limited as a result of this.
Repot or remove pest plants.
Transfer your plants to a new pot with the new soil mix if they are potted. Check to see if your plant is healthy, and remove any dead leaves before replanting.
If some of the plants in your garden are beginning to show indications of illness, remove them to keep the others safe. To avoid infection, prune the affected areas and relocate them away from healthy plants.
Use insecticide to get rid of the eggs.
You can use an insecticide if the spider eggs in the plant’s gourd are inedible.
Even if you aren’t concerned about pesticide side effects on your plants, organic insecticides are still recommended.
Some inorganic insecticides are extremely toxic, and they can harm your plants by causing root burns or disrupting chemical metabolism.
You should use oil-based pesticides in addition to organic insecticides because spider egg sacs are typically waterproof and unaffected by chemicals.
Wear all protective gear and follow all safety precautions before spraying insecticides to avoid any damage.
Apply pesticides to the soil that are dry and crystalline.
On the infested soil, you can use granulated, crystallized pesticides like imidacloprid. After that, pour water on the crystals to make the poison active.
Add a systemic pesticide to your plant’s soil to get rid of spider eggs. This might be one containing imidacloprid, which is absorbed by the plant’s roots as well.
This means you’ve got a two-shot control system in place because you’re dealing with spider eggs in the soil as well as any spiders on the plant.
Using rubbing alcohol to remove eggs.
Rubbing alcohol is a powerful pesticide that may destroy a wide range of pests, including spider mites and other houseplant pests.
To utilize it, all you have to do is wipe the plant leaves with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel or cotton bud.
On the other hand, a 1:3 solution of rubbing alcohol and water can be used to remove eggs from the soil.
Keep in mind that the concentrated solution may cause your plant’s roots to burn. As a result, you must maintain a precise concentration — neither too light nor too powerful.
Hydrogen peroxide removal of eggs
The acidity of the soil can be altered by hydrogen peroxide, which kills pests. Hydrogen peroxide also fizzes, killing the eggs and larvae.
You must, however, dilute it with water before using it. To achieve this, combine 4% water and 3% hydrogen peroxide in a solution and feed it to your plants.
This method produces gradual effects, and you must repeat the process numerous times until all of the eggs and mites have been removed.
If using pure hydrogen peroxide, dilute one part with five parts water and completely soak the potting soil.
Castile soapy water should be used.
A mixture of castile soap and water can be used to repel spiders. Fatty acid-based soaps function as a barrier, killing the baby spiders.
To prepare it, simply combine a tablespoon of liquid soap with a cup of warm water and spray. You can also use a sponge to apply the solution all over the tree trunk instead of a spray bottle.
Soak the plant in this solution as much as possible until all of the spiders and eggs have died and your plant is showing signs of healing.
The nicest part about using soapy water solutions is that they are completely harmless to animals, children, and pollinators.
Using Neem oil
Neem oil, in addition to water-soap solutions, is a popular and effective insecticide that is also harmless for wildlife and humans.
By disrupting the spider mite’s hormonal system, it kills them and ruins their eggs. You can use the same approach to prevent bug infestation in addition to removing eggs.
One teaspoon of liquid soap, two tablespoons of Neem oil, and Lukewarm water are all you need to prepare this solution. Spray the solution all over the plant, around the stems, leaves, and anyplace else you see egg sacs after fully mixing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the average number of eggs laid by spiders?
“Around a thousand eggs” is an acceptable answer for many species. Because their hatchlings are more robust and likely to survive until adulthood, certain hardier spider species only lay ten eggs in each sac.
Q: Is it possible to kill spider eggs in the soil using insect spray?
Many spider species and their eggs are killed by bug spray, but the problem is that both arachnids and eggs must come into direct contact with the spray.
With spider eggs in plant soil, there is no feasible method to achieve this without using so much spray that it poses a health danger to both plants and humans.
Final thoughts
Above we have provided detailed information on how to destroy spider eggs in the soil. Choose the right method to kill spider eggs while protecting your plants. Hope the article is useful to you.