Fighting
Mites
in the Growroom
by Dr. Lynette Morgan
If you want to keep your
growroom free of mites and
other nasty plant-killing pests,
the key is early detection. That
way you can vanquish them
before they start reproducing
and infesting your crops.
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Maximum Yield
M
ites in an indoor garden are one of the most challenging pests to
conquer, and they can be easily overlooked in the early stages of
an infestation. Those who have battled the twospotted mite (Tetranychus
urticae) or other mite species know exactly what formidable enemies
these pests are. Minuscule in size, rapid breeders, and capable of
destroying a crop, mites are best prevented from the outset. However,
infestations can be dealt with if caught early and treated correctly.
Mites, often called spider mites, are difficult-to-see eight-legged pests
usually less than one millimeter in length that cause extensive damage
to a wide range of greenhouse and growroom crops. The twospotted mite
is the most common species, but the carmine mite, broad mite, tomato
russet mite, and bulb mite also occur in protected cropping.
Adult mites are difficult to see without magnification. Those with good
eyesight may be able to detect small, pale yellow, orange, brown, or
black dots on the underside of infected leaves and the later stages of fine
webbing. Adult mites that infect a new crop rapidly lay eggs on foliage.