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I am growing a lemon tree indoors. It got infested with spider mite (at least I think that based on the look of it see picture at the end).

I noticed it bit late and it caused my lemon tree to loose all leaves on 1 branch.

I applied this spray against bugs, but wonder if I should do something more. Do I need to prune infested branches and cut them off or will the spray be enough? Is there anything else I can do to help the tree survive? Should I also clean the leaves with water?

Picture of infestation here:

enter image description here

1muflon1
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While using soap and water typically works well before going to a chemical based product, I wash mine down with peppermint oil and water mixture. It appears to kill them. I just spray the entire tree when I see any sign of mites. Your room will smell like peppermint for a short while but it’s effective. I check all of my plants every day or two. This has worked well for me and my plants. I also spray the top of the soil.

Evelyn Martin
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Thanks for clarifying the active ingredient. Although that product is said to be kind of effective against spiders, spiders are not spider mites, so I'm not entirely sure it will work on spider mite, though it's more likely it will than not.

If it doesn't work, I'd suggest you try neem oil spray instead next time, which is a more natural and less harmful (to humans and animals) substance than deltamethrin. There is nothing else you should be doing to get rid of the mites as well as spraying, although increasing humidity around the plant will help - spider mites like dry, hot conditions, so misting occasionally with ordinary water might help. If you are intending to move the plant outdoors during summer, spider mites are less likely to be a problem, until you bring it back inside again for winter.

Bamboo
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That's a pretty severe infestation but not uncommon on indoor citrus. In order to control them you have to understand what the control agents do. Whether it's deltamethrin, neem or dish soap these are all contact pesticides. They have to coat the spider mite to kill it.

The webbings are an effective way of preventing sprays from touching the adults and the eggs.

A very effective way of controlling spider mites is mixing 5 ml of dish soap with one liter of water. Then take a cloth and get it good and soapy. Wipe down every leaf and stem and then repeat three times at five day intervals. This will get any eggs that hatch later. After wiping the plant down send it to the showers to wash the soap off.

kevinskio
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