Spider Eggs in Plant Soil: How To Get Rid of Them Right Away - Evergreen Seeds (2024)

Spider eggs in plant soil mean these crawling insects will soon infest your pot. That is why you must learn how to get rid of these eggs in the quickest way possible.

If you are in the midst of this problem, you don’t need to worry. This complete guide is filled with so many good egg eradication methods, all of which work like magic.

What Are Spider Eggs in Plant Soil?

Spider eggs in your plant’s soil might be from large, full-sized species of spiders or they might be from mites. These mites, though very small houseplant pests, are also arachnoids and fall within the same category as spiders.

They develop in your soil for various reasons, most importantly because they find the environment of the soil safe and conducive to their growth.

Want to find out more about this? Read the sections coming up ahead.

– Spiders

Spiders are fond of burrowing into the soil and laying their eggs in it. And what do spider eggs look like? These eggs are bundled inside round sacs of a creamy white color.

Depending on the type of spider in question, some of the sacks can be smooth while others have a raggedy appearance. Almost all of these sacs are jelly-like in consistency and extremely small. You will not have an easy time identifying it.

Each sac also contains a different number of eggs, depending on the type of spider again. On average, spider eggs per sac range from 150 to even thousands of baby spiders.

– Spider Mites

These mites are extremely tiny and difficult to see with the naked eye. To identify spider mites properly, you might have to use a magnifying glass; otherwise, all you will notice will be tiny dots moving about. Their eggs, therefore, are not at all visible to the naked eye.

Unlike ordinary spiders, a spider mite infestation can be disastrous for your plant. They are pests and will suck all the nutritious fluid flowing through your plant. The plant will start to wilt, its leaves dropping and yellowing.

These symptoms are how you can find out that your plant and its soil are under attack. Pick up a leaf and look under it; you will see lots of these spider mites collected near the nodes.

– Why They Lay Eggs in Houseplant Soil

Spiders and spider mites usually lay their eggs in the soil because they deem it a safe spot for their babies to grow. The soft, warm, and moist conditions also suit them as it helps their eggs hatch. Moreover, their larvae also get plenty of nutrition from the plant and the soil to grow into adult insects.

How To Remove Spider Eggs From Soil

To remove eggs from spider and spider mites in your soil, you can try drying the soil or using natural or chemical insecticides. You can also use peroxide, insect poison, or vacuum cleaners. However, biological methods of pest control remain our favorite.

The details are all up ahead.

– Work Towards Drying Your Soil

The reason why spiders find it convenient to lay their eggs in the soil is because of moisture. They seek the warm, humid, and moist conditions common within most soils. That is why drying the soil is a good idea as the first step of getting rid of them.

You must stop watering the plant until the soil becomes thoroughly dried. This will cause the eggs to grow weak and die. Dry soil also kills pests such as millipedes and springtails, which are food for mites, killing them as well.

This method might not work for all the plants, though. Plants like succulents tolerate being dry pretty well, but moisture-loving plants like pothos cannot be left unwatered for too long. Don’t worry; we have other methods for you to try in such a case.

– Neem Oil as a Natural Insecticide

Neem oil is a wonderful ingredient in killing all sorts of plant pests. It is effective against them all, whether it be spiders, spider mites, fungus gnats, and whatnot. It is also safer for the plant’s health compared to chemical-based insecticides.

The right proportion to mix it is one tablespoon of neem oil, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and one gallon of water. You need to pour this mixture into the soil only once a week. Pour during the colder times of the day as hotter oil can potentially burn the plant.

This oil works because it disrupts the life cycle of the eggs in your soil. The eggs will not get to hatch to the larval stage. It will also kill an adult spider mite and spider.

– Other Natural Insecticides

Since 100 percent authentic neem oil is not easily available all the time and everywhere, we have some other options for you as well. These, too, are all-natural options that pose no damage to the plant’s health.

Cinnamate is made from cinnamon, and its regular application kills the spider and spider mite eggs. It also kills eggs that have hatched in their early stage of life. Apply it every third day for two to three weeks without skipping a day.

Rosemary is a natural oil that kills all harmful mites without harming the beneficial species. Mix it with water and spray it on the soil every week.

– Biological Control Through Bacteria

You can utilize certain bacteria to combat the spiders’ eggs in your soil. The one to use in this case is Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis, or BTI for short. This bacterium kills the larvae once the eggs have hatched.

You can get this form of insect egg control from any well-stocked nursery or gardening store. You also need to water the plant thoroughly as a protective measure before using this method. Mix your BTI with the specified volume of water and then pour it on the soil in question, then sit back and let the bacteria do their thing.

– Biological Control Through Pests

You can introduce certain pests to eliminate the tiny white eggs in houseplant soil . Ladybugs, lacewings, and even other mites are effective predators of spider mites in nature.

You can purchase them from your local farmer’s market or order them online. Before introducing them into the soil, remove stuff that makes it difficult for these pests to grow and live. This comprises too much mulch, leaves, and flowers.

The best part about this method? It keeps your plant healthy and has no real side effects. It also works to prevent spider mites attacks from happening in the future.

– Use Insecticidal Soap

This is one of the easiest methods for those who don’t want to use harsh chemicals on indoor plants. Mix one teaspoon of insecticidal soap in one liter of water. A mild insecticidal solution will form as a result.

Pour it directly on the soil along with spraying on the plant. Its weekly use will eliminate the eggs of spiders and spider mites by a great deal.

– Hydrogen Peroxide

Peroxide is a particularly strong and universally available chemical that you can utilize to kill spider mites and spiders, especially their eggs. It should not be added to the soil without diluting first. It’s best to use three percent peroxide and add it to one whole spray bottle.

It reacts with water to produce a fizz that kills spider larvae and eggs. It also changes soil pH, making them unable to survive.

– Go For Alcohol

In addition to getting rid of eggs from spiders in the soil, you also need to kill potential eggs on the plant structure itself. That’s when rubbing alcohol comes in handy. Just take a cotton pad, soak it in any household alcohol and rub it on the plant leaves on both sides.

Our favorite alcohol to use is 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. It has never failed to do the job successfully.

– Use a Vacuum Cleaner

This is one of the most innovative methods by which you can control spider populations within your soil. It works especially well when you can identify and see eggs, larvae, and webs on the surface or within cracks in the soil.

Direct your cleaner towards the soil surface and turn it on. It will suck everything up in no time. You can then throw it all away as suited.

Keep in mind that this method is, of course, not 100 percent effective. The eggs and larvae deep within the soil will not be killed. You must use additional supplementary methods too.

– Poison for Insects

This method is for spiders and does not work against a spider mite infestation. This comes mostly in the form of a powder you need to mix in a specified quantity of water.

This quantity will be written on the instructions given, along with some additional care precautions. Just make sure you buy poison that is meant to kill spiders.

– Chemical Insecticides

Of course, chemical insecticides are super effective in killing any pests in the soil, be it spiders, mites, fungus gnats, you name it. The only concern they pose is that they are not the safest for plants, pets, and humans. We suggest you go for a powdered or granular form of insecticide that can be mixed in water.

You can then pour this mixture onto the soil as per the instructions given by the manufacturer. You can also put some of it in a spray bottle and spray it on the plant. It will kill the parent pest, their eggs, and larvae with regular use as specified.

Safety Precautions

Of course, it would be best to protect yourself, your kids and your pets when using such harsh chemicals. Here we have compiled some precautions you must follow when using insecticides.

• Move the plant to a secluded room or area before spraying.
• It’s best to water the plant beforehand as a safety measure against chemical burns.
• Wear protective clothing, rubber gloves, and eyewear to prevent undue exposure.
• Wear hats because the scalp also absorbs chemicals from the air into the bloodstream.
• Keep children and pets away from the plant for at least several days after using the insecticide.

– Use Hydraulic Pressure

Again, this is not the most effective and total method of eradicating eggs and spiders from your soil. However, if you are busy with little time, then using this method on and off will keep the spider population in check.

Take a jet nozzle and use it to water your soil forcefully. The eggs and larvae will be ejected out from the soil. Some of them might even get hurt or killed by the pressure.

This is especially useful if you have spider sacs full of eggs over the surface. Just one jet stream and off these sacs will go.