How Do Spiders Hurt Tomato Plants?
WouterSpiders are not a major threat to tomato plants. However, they can cause considerable damage before being noticed. They pierce the leaves of the tomato plant to feed on the plant’s juices. This can result in leaf curling, which is a sign of infestation.
Insecticidal soap and neem oil are effective pesticides for tomato plants. These insecticides should be applied to the infested plant in early evening. Some gardeners use mint and clove oils as acaricides.
When spider mites are first introduced, they tend to cluster on the undersides of the leaves. Once the infestation gets worse, the clusters expand in size. As a result, the infested leaves become infested with hundreds of these tiny creatures.
They can easily move between the infested plant and neighboring plants. This means that if the infestation is localized, it can spread to other nearby tomato plants. As a result, a severe infestation can kill the plants and reduce the quality of the fruit. If the infestation is more widespread, a strong jet of water can be used to remove the insects.
One method of treatment is to hose down infested leaves with a diluted mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. This can dehydrate the spider mites and help to kill them. To avoid burning the plants, apply the rubbing alcohol to the underside of the leaves and then hose them off.
Another method of treating a spider mite infestation is to spray the affected plants with insecticidal soap. The soap solution should be applied carefully and thoroughly. Adding neem oil to the soap mixture can also be helpful.
