A plant in wildlife has a huge number of pests that want to feast on the greenery. Growing flowers in pots is easier, as prevention and care of crops is simplified. Nevertheless, they are susceptible to parasites. One of the most common can be considered soil mites. They harm the underground of gladioli, tulips and lilies, damaging the bulb.
Essential part of the ecosystem
Such they are in nature. Soil mites constantly live in the soil. They are in the garden and in the field, in the garden. In fact, these are scavengers that prevent soil decay. But where space is limited, and the reproduction of ticks is not controlled in any way, they begin to feed on what is. Namely, the living parts of the plant begin to eat. Of those varieties that are grown in a pot, bulbs are most often attacked.
Pest Description
A root soil mite is an amazing creature. He is in the soil all the time, but almost no one notices him. But if your bulbous plant dies, then you should shake out the soil and carefully consider it. It is easy to recognize by appearance. It is a light, translucent insect.
He is very hardy and does not die without food and moisture. Under adverse conditions, only metabolic processes slow down. But under suitable conditions, they come back to life and start to eat roots and bulbs.
The soil tick has very strong jaws. Therefore, insects easily damage the tissue of the bulb. In the free space, they lay eggs. Gloxinia, hyacinths and orchids are most susceptible to infection.
Signs of defeat
Soil mites in indoor flowers do not start very often. In the garden, they can be found in beds with garlic or onions; they do not change their preferences in pots. Not only adult insects, but also their larvae harm plants. How can you tell if a green pet needs help?
The first thing the leaves begin to change. They warp, individual sections change color. Fresh soil that you calcined or treated with potassium permanganate before planting cannot be infected with a tick. Usually this is the problem of pots in which the soil has not changed for a long time. Therefore, do not forget about the rules of care.
If you have ever seen a bulb with one shell left, you will forever remember how the soil mite works. Damaged bulbs begin to mold and rot. The more time has passed since the bulb was chosen by insects, the more damage. Gradually, it loses its elasticity. In it you can see the passages and cavities. Gradually, only one shell remains of it. In it you can find larval skins and excrement. Usually you can see insects at various stages of development.
Where does the problem come from
An ideal condition for the appearance of a soil mite in indoor plants is warm and waterlogged soil. Therefore, if you tend to fill pots, then the risk of ticks increases several times. Ticks quickly creep from one pot to another. Therefore, infected plants must be destroyed or isolated from healthy ones. A good way out of this situation is immediate treatment, as well as parallel prophylaxis among healthy plants. The easiest way is to get a tick in your collection by buying bulbs or a substrate in the store that already has a parasite.
Preventive actions
It is much more important to prevent a problem than to deal with it later. This also applies to soil mites. You can see a photo of this pest in our article. If you do not look for it on purpose, then easily miss the tiny insects in the ground. Usually they settle where bulbous plants were planted. And if a new hyacinth suddenly gets sick, you should dig out the bulb and carefully examine it.
But this is already a question of the struggle. and what to do to prevent pests from harming your green pets? Let's look at the basic rules.
Simple rules
- Refuse to buy if new plants are suspicious. When buying the bulbs, slightly open the scales. Parasites can be easily seen, as well as assess the extent of damage. If the seller does not allow inspecting the bulbs, it is better not to buy them.
- If you use your own plant material, then it must be dried after assembly. Bulbs of tulip, hyacinth and other popular plants need to be dried for 16 hours at a temperature of +40 degrees.
- Planted plants need to be watered with chamomile broth with a temperature of +35 degrees. It will be fatal to parasites.
- Before laying the bulbs for storage, you need to dry both the bulbs and the storage. The room must be etched, and the bulbs treated with special substances from fungus and ticks.
- The temperature and humidity during storage must be reduced. The higher the indicators, the better the conditions for the development of insects. Check your seeds regularly so that you can take immediate action if you see any signs of damage. It is best to remove the onion and put it separately. If you do not see ticks, then you can observe its condition. With its deterioration, it is best to burn the bulb.
How to get rid of pests
If the lesion is minor, and you noticed it on time, then no problems with treatment should arise, especially if you know how to get rid of the soil tick.
- The easiest way is a soap solution. They watered the ground and wiped the leaves.
- The second most popular, but not effective, is the infusion of garlic on the water. Usually repeat the procedure until the complete disappearance of all symptoms of the disease.
- For indoor plants, you can use an ultraviolet lamp. It is enough to keep it turned on for two minutes a couple of times a week, and all the pests will completely disappear.
- Nettle also helps fight pests. To do this, take 0.7 kg of nettle and pour 5 liters of boiling water. Place the vessel in a warm place. After five days, strain, dilute 1:10 and water under the root.
With severe defeat
And how to deal with the soil tick, if the number of affected areas is already large? Folk remedies can no longer cope, more intensive measures of influence need to be applied. Treatment with systemic insecticides will help kill all parasites. Moreover, this remedy acts for a long time, so even the future generation manages to destroy. Actellik or Neoron are best. Do not forget that insects get used to the drugs used, and therefore they should be alternated. Typically, systemic insecticides can save the plant even in the most advanced cases. And only if the bulb begins to rot due to a large amount of damage, it becomes impossible to save it.