Spider Mites - Get Ready To Go To War!

Spider mites are members of the Acari (mite) family. They generally live on the undersides of leaves, where they spin protective webs, causing damage to leaves by puncturing the plant cell walls to feed.


Spider mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Under optimal conditions (27 °C), the spider mite can hatch in as little as 3 days, and become sexually mature in 5 days. One female can lay up to 20 eggs per day and can live for 2 to 4 weeks, laying hundreds of eggs. This reproductive rate allows spider mite populations to adapt quickly to pesticides, so using the same treatment repeatedly can become ineffective.

Spider mites are extremely small and nearly impossible to see. It's their webs and their damage that first alert us to their presence. Affected leaves on an otherwise happy-looking plant will start to turn yellow, and/or develop white spots on leaves, oftentimes while it is still actively putting out new growth. The webs are almost always found on the undersides of the leaves, which makes them easy to miss. After the undersides of leaves are covered they will start webbing around the edges and top of leaves.

How They Travel
Spider mites are very small and hard to detect. They generally climb from plant to plant, rapidly multiplying. Mites can be spread in your home by attaching themselves to your clothes, a pets fur, or by simply travelling through air currents. This is how plants that are isolated seem to get infected anyways.

Area Treatment
1) Isolate affected plant, preferably in a cooler, humid environment. Inspect and treat any other plants in the immediate vicinity of the infested plants.
2) Clean the entire area where your plants were to ensure the environment is mite free. Use a disinfectant cleaner or a solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Infected Plant Treatment
Wipe the leaves down with a solution of 500ml warm water, 5 drops mild dish soap and 10ml (3%) hydrogen peroxide. Use a cue tip or small brush to apply. Spray remainder of solution on top and underside of leaves, saturating leaves and top of soil.
You can also wipe them down with a solution of "cold pressed" Neem Oil (3ml/500ml water), which is safe for most plants. Spray remainder of solution until plant and soil both are saturated and dripping. Spray remainder of solution on top and underside of leaves, saturating leaves and top of soil.
Keep plants in isolation and repeat treatments every 5 days, varying treatment each time, until pests are gone. Inspect plants thoroughly before reintroducing.

Heavily Infected Plants
Sometimes plants can become heavily infected and traditional treatments are not solving the problem. In this case you may need to resort to an actual pesticide. I would recommend using a pesticide that contains Pyrethrins such as "Doktor Doom Spider Mite Knockout". This is definitely an effective method of treatment but there are downsides. Mask and gloves are required as well as good ventilation. Remember this product is classified as a pesticide and should be treated accordingly. They are also a little harsher on plants so use with caution. They should also not be used when in bloom or on fruits and vegetables before harvest due to residuals.

Spider mites are not easy to get rid of but with a little persistence, you can win the war!