Spider Mites
Can spider mites kill or harm my houseplant? How often/long should I treat the plant for?
Spider mites penetrate the leaf surface and remove the cell content. The result of spider mite infestation are tiny dots or stippling that give the leaves a bronze, chlorotic, grayish mottled look. Eventually the leaves will start to turn yellow/brown along the veins and drop. The foliage starts to wilt and general health of the plant declines. In severe infections you will also see fine webbing on the plant.
To test for spider mites, take a white sheet of paper, place it on the underside side of the leaves and tap on the leaf. If you see tiny pindots moving on the paper, then you have spider mites. Isolate your plant from all others because they reproduce rapidly (50-200 eggs in 7-14 days depending on temperature) and spread easily. If the plant is heavily infested then it should be discarded. It can be a difficult insect to control.
To control the infestation, spray the plant with insecticidal soap every 3-5 days for two weeks. Be sure to thoroughly spray the plant getting the underside of the leaves. If insecticidal soap does not do the trick try Neem oil. An alcohol solution made of 4 parts of water to 3 parts of rubbing alcohol with a squirt of dish detergent can also work as a contact spray. Spider mites love the hot, dry environment that is indoors during the winter and will attack plants that are stressed and weakened due to poor environmental conditions.
Increased humidity around the plant and washing the plant repeatedly with a forceful spray will knock off the mites and eggs which will help curtail the problem effectively but not eliminate it.
A note about insecticidal soap: A study at (ifas.ufl.edu) has found that some plants are sensitive to insecticidal soap causing phytotoxicity. The plant will show symptoms of yellow/brown spotting, burned tips, yellow or brown scorching leaf edges. Some plants sensitive to insecticidal soap are ; gardenia, lantana, nasturtium, Easter lilies(when forming buds) , maidenhair fern and crown of thorns. In this case use a miticide for houseplants. Follow manufacturer label and be sure it is safe to use indoors.
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I current have a mandevilla that is indoor for the winter. It’s in front of a door and is get a lot of sunlight. It’s has a lot of tiny insects and the leaves are dropping off. Is that normal and what can I use to get rid of the insect?
Jen
Thanks for responding to my e-mail dated 11-25. You are correct about the insect. Can spider mites kill or harm my plant? How often/long should I treat the plant for? Since its indoor how often should I water? You have been very helpful. Hope you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holidays.