Spider mites on your house plants can be a REAL bummer. Not only do spider mites infect fast, but they cause the plant to turn yellow, among a whole host of other unsightly problems. If you are dealing with the issue of spider mites on plants, follow this guide to learn how to get rid of them in a totally all-natural way.
Is your plant suffering from a spider mite infestation?
If you have a sick houseplant with pests, one of the first things you should do is diagnose the issue. A spider mite infestation typically presents as yellow, tan, or white spots on the leaves. Additionally, a cotton-like webbing will appear between leaves. Spider mites ARE a species of spiders, and they too produce webbing! If you’re noticing “webs” on your plant leaves, spider mites are likely to blame. Occasionally, you’ll see small white flecks in the webbing, these are the spider mites themselves. Yuck!
How to get rid of spider mites on plants
Unfortunately, spider mites are one of the hardest house plant pests to get rid of, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done!
The first thing you need to do is isolate the infected plant–as I mentioned above. Spider mites infect house plant collections fast, so no measure is too great when it comes to treating these yucky houseplant pests!
My favorite way to get rid of spider mites on my house plants is via a hearty dosing of Neem Oil. Neem oil is a natural insecticide. To apply, mix 1:3 parts Neem Oil to water in a spray bottle.
Next, take your plant into the shower (yes!) and rinse the leaves thoroughly with the shower head. This should kill any adult mites that are on the plant or in the soil.
To keep them from coming back, spray the entire plant with a layer of Neem Oil every day for 14 days or until the plants have fully recovered. I like to mix an additional leaf wash there in the middle to further help the plant recover.
Additionally, a rubbing alcohol mix works well if you don’t have any Neem Oil readily available.
