Guard 'n' Aid Spider Mite 250ml Concentrate - Pyrethrum Contact Spray for Mites and Eggs
Best for: growers dealing with an active spider mite problem who need something that acts fast on eggs, larvae and adults alike.
Our thoughts
Spider mites move fast, so slow-acting or half-strength sprays just let them get ahead of you. This is a proper pyrethrum-based contact spray, not a diluted-down "safe for everything" product that barely touches an established infestation. Mix it right, spray thoroughly, and get to it the moment you spot the first signs - webbing and yellow speckling only get worse from here.
Guard 'n' Aid Spider Mite is a contact insecticide concentrate based on pyrethrum, a natural extract from the flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium. The formula is carried in a high level of canola (rapeseed) oil, which helps the pyrethrum target the respiratory and nervous systems of the mites on contact.
It's effective against spider mites at all life stages - eggs, larval stages and adults - and is labelled for use on both edible and non-edible crops, indoors and outdoors, including on hard surfaces where mites and eggs can hide. As a 250ml concentrate, it's designed to be diluted before use rather than sprayed directly.
How it compares
Pyrethrum-based contact sprays are one of the more established categories for mite control, and Guard 'n' Aid sits alongside a handful of well-known UK names.
- SB Plant Invigorator works on a different mechanical mode of action (a soap and nutrient-based spray) rather than pyrethrum, and tends to need more frequent reapplication on established infestations.
- Bug Clear Ultra products from garden centres often use synthetic pyrethroids rather than natural pyrethrum, which some growers prefer to avoid on edible crops.
- Growth Technology and other hydro-shop own brands sell similar pyrethrum concentrates, generally at a comparable price per treated litre.
You're getting a genuine pyrethrum-based concentrate that covers all life stages of the mite, at a dilution rate that stretches the 250ml bottle a long way.
Usage guidance
Dilution
Mix 15-20ml of concentrate per litre of water; do not exceed 20ml per litre.
Coverage
At 20ml per litre, the 250ml bottle makes up to around 16 x 750ml sprays.
Timing
Apply in the early morning or evening when temperatures are lower, as this is when the spray is most effective and less likely to stress the plant.
Application
Spray to cover the whole plant, including the undersides of leaves where mites cluster, but avoid direct contact with open flowers.
Repeat treatment
Reapply at the first sign of returning activity, since pyrethrum breaks down relatively quickly and doesn't leave long-lasting residual protection.
Technical specifications
- Active ingredient: pyrethrum (from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium)
- Carrier: canola (rapeseed) oil, approx. 83%
- Volume: 250ml concentrate
- Dilution rate: 15-20ml per litre (do not exceed 20ml/L)
- Coverage: up to approx. 16 x 750ml sprays at 20ml/L
- Targets: spider mite eggs, larvae and adults
- Use on: edible and non-edible crops, indoors and outdoors, and hard surfaces
- Manufacturer: Guard 'n' Aid
Who this is for
- Growers with an active or recent spider mite outbreak
- Anyone wanting a natural, pyrethrum-based option over synthetic pyrethroids
- Edible and non-edible crop growers needing hard surface treatment too
- Growers who need to treat all life stages, not just visible adult mites
Our take
Spider mites punish hesitation, and this is built to hit them properly rather than gently - covering eggs, larvae and adults with a genuine pyrethrum concentrate rather than a watered-down "prevention" spray. The dilution rate is generous enough that the 250ml bottle covers a lot of ground.
Does exactly what it should, day in, day out. Worth picking up the moment you spot the first webbing rather than waiting to see how bad it gets.
