Dealing With Spider Mites

These tiny pests can cause a lot of damage, but they can be defeated.

A leaf with fine webbing from spider mites.

Signs of Spider Mites

The tell-tale sign of spider mites is fine, delicate webbing on the plant, especially on the undersides of leaves and where the leaf meets the stem. You may also see tiny white or yellow dots on the leaves, which is damage from them feeding.

Treatment

Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, so increasing humidity can help. To treat an infestation, start by giving your plant a good shower, trying to blast off as many of the pests and their webbing as you can. Then, treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap, paying close attention to the undersides of the leaves. Repeat every few days until they are gone.

A person spraying the underside of a leaf.