How Do You Control Spider Mites On Indoor Plants?
Spider mites are tiny (1/50 of an inch), rust-colored insects that have piercing/sucking mouth parts. They suck the fluids from leaves and stems, robbing plants of essential nutrients. Plants become weak and their leaves may drop. Indoors, spider mites thrive in the warm, dry environment. Identify spider mite damage by looking on the undersides of leaves for tiny, rust-colored specks and webs. Plants with spider mite damage have a sickly appearance and, possibly, yellowing of the leaves. Hold a piece of white paper under a leaf, and give the leaf a good hard tap. If tiny, rust-colored specks fall on the paper, your plant has spider mites. Isolate the infested plant from the rest of your houseplant collection. Spider mites are invasive and will infest other plants. Spray a strong jet of water over all surfaces of the plant, including stems, foliage and undersides of the leaves. The stream will wash the insects off. This is the easiest way to control spider mites. If the water alone does
