Shake the bottle, turn the spay nozzle to the mist setting and fully saturate the stems and leaves of the plant you are treating until dripping. Be sure to spray Earth’s Ally Insect Control underneath the leaves because this is where bugs are often found. If you are treating outdoor plants, avoid application during the hottest part of the day. Spray them early in the morning or in the evening.
Treating Infestations
For heavier infestations, we recommended:
- Isolate infested plants if possible.
- Spray the infected plants down with water. Use a strong jet of water from a garden hose to dislodge bugs from the leaf undersides.
- When the plant is dry, apply Earth’s Ally Insect Control to the leaves, stems and undersides.
- Keep the soil bare under plants, raking away any leaves or debris
- Repeat application of Earth’s Ally Insect Control every 3-5 days until eradicated.
Spider Mites
Spider mites can be completely eradicated with early detection and the right controls. Once you have identified spider mites, isolate any infested plants from healthy plants and spray the infected plants down with water. You can use a garden hose or purchase specialty nozzles designed for this purpose. Once dry, follow up with an insect control formula, fully saturating the stems, leaves and undersides of the plant. Emphasis on undersides.
Many insect control formulas are made with heavy oils and kill spider mites through suffocation. Earth's Ally is an essential oil-based product that kills both the mites and their eggs more effectively through both suffocation and paralysis. As an added bonus, essential oils are safe and smell good when houseplants are brought back inside.
When treating spider mites specifically, we recommend a follow up treatment 3 days after the initial application to knockdown any remaining population from spider mite eggs. Keep in mind spider mites reproduce most rapidly in hot, dry weather. If your garden or houseplants are experiencing those conditions, you may need to treat multiple times to completely eradicate the population.
Most plants will recover from spider mites feeding with early detection. Although spider mite blemishes will remain on foliage once damage has occurred, you can in many cases remove infected stems and leaves to encourage new growth.
Because spider mites travel easily, they are persistent pests. The best preventative measure is to inspect your plants often for early detection. When bringing new plants into your living space, keep them isolated until you are sure they are pest free. Maintain clean conditions, proper watering and feeding. Apply a preventative spray of Earth’s Ally Insect Control weekly to repel spider mites and other soft-bodied insects.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats can be difficult to treat because the larvae develop in the soil and feed on fungi and plant roots. Earth’s Ally is a foliar spray intended for application to the stems and leaves of plants. It is very effective at killing and repelling soft-bodied insects, including gnats. However, with recommended use the formula is not reaching larvae in the soil. Ultimately, you may need to amend the watering schedule and repot if the problem persists.