Spider mites
Tiny mites that speckle leaves and spin fine webs, worst in hot, dry air.
What you'll see
- Fine pale speckles on the leaves, which later turn bronze or yellow and drop.
- Fine silk webbing under leaves, between leaves and around shoot tips.
- Tiny moving dots under the leaves: tap a leaf over white paper and look with a magnifier.
Why it happens
Spider mites are tiny relatives of spiders that feed on leaf sap. They breed fast in hot, dry, dusty air, especially on thirsty plants.
How to fix it
- Move the plant away from others, then rinse the leaf undersides with water every day to knock the mites down.
- Spray insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, covering the undersides well, and repeat, because sprays only kill on contact.
- Cut off and bin heavily webbed leaves or shoots, and discard plants that stay infested.
- Use any spray exactly as the label says, and keep kids and pets away until it dries.
Keep it from coming back
- Water steadily; dry, stressed plants get the worst damage.
- Keep dust down, and rinse or wipe houseplant leaves now and then.
- Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides, which kill the mites' predators and can make outbreaks worse.
Read more
- A 5-minute pest check
- Winter care for houseplants
- Humidity for houseplants
- How to clean plant leaves
- How to pick a healthy plant
Sources
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.