Learn the early signs of spiders mites on your plants and how to kill these common pests.
Then you’ve likely got spider mites on your indoor plants.
If you see tiny specks moving around on the paper, youve found spider mites.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
These pests can multiply quickly, so immediate action is best when you find them onyour favorite houseplants.
What are spider mites?
Their tiny webs, which are easier to spot, are a tell-tale sign of their presence.
The mites suck sap from plant leaves, resulting inleaves becoming mottled and unhealthy-looking.
A heavy infestation can cause leaves to fall off the plants and new growth to become stunted.
They only live on plants.
Or you’re able to use chemicals to kill spider mites.
It may take a few rinses to remove all the mites.
Increasing humidity around your plant also discourages these pests, which prefer warm, dry conditions.
Pesticides
There are two different types of pesticides: contact and systemic.
Contact pesticides:These are typically applied in liquid form as a fine spray.
This kills spider mites quickly before they have time to multiply.
Most of these products have a very unpleasant smell and should not be inhaled.
A few least-toxic options include insecticidal soapand neem oil.
Systemic pesticides:You canapply these types of pesticidesin several different ways.
The active ingredients in the pesticide enter the plant and poison pests after they feed on the plant.
But some favorite types of houseplants appear to becroton,English ivy, andelephant ears.
Remove the infested plant right away from other plants.
Keep the plant away from others until you are certain that the spider mites are gone.
It is very difficult to pinpoint exactly where a spider mite infestation may have come from.
It could also happen when bringing in cut flowers from the garden or vegetables into the kitchen.
