Dealing With Spider Mites Before They Spread

Fine webbing between leaves and a dusty, speckled look on foliage are often the first visible signs of spider mites, tiny pests that can spread across a plant collection quickly if left unaddressed.

Step 1: Confirm it’s actually spider mites

Hold a sheet of white paper under an affected leaf and tap gently; tiny specks that fall and begin moving are a strong indicator of mites, which are otherwise hard to see with the naked eye.

Step 2: Isolate the affected plant immediately

Moving the plant away from others in the collection prevents mites from spreading while treatment is underway, since they travel easily between nearby plants.

Step 3: Rinse the plant thoroughly

A strong, direct spray of water across the leaves, especially the undersides where mites tend to concentrate, physically removes a significant portion of the population before any further treatment.

Step 4: Increase humidity around the plant

Spider mites generally thrive in dry conditions, so raising humidity around the affected plant, through misting or a nearby humidity tray, makes the environment less favorable for them going forward.

Step 5: Monitor closely over the following weeks

A single treatment rarely eliminates an infestation completely, since eggs can survive the initial rinse. Checking the plant every few days and repeating the rinse as needed usually resolves a mild infestation within a few weeks without needing anything beyond water and patience.