JillFlorio

A reader asks about spider mites on her houseplants. Here’s the short version for an organic treatment.

LETTER - I have a Dragon Tree and a Weeping Fig Tree, I just bought them a few days ago, I noticed that in the soil of my plants are these tiny little bugs, the look similar to tiny gnats. There are little webs all over the branches and more gnats. I was wondering if anyone had any idea to what these might be and if there is something I can do to get rid of them. Thanks.

ANSWER - Hi! It sounds like you have spider mites, which are both tenacious and contagious among plants.

Move all the infected houseplants to another room, in a quarantine immediately. Spray your plant completely with warm, soapy water. Dishsoap and water in a spray bottle is fine. A little soap goes a long way.

Soak the entire plant with spray and down into the top of the soil. Really get into the areas around the nodes, under the leaves, and in the crotches of branches.

Be careful your water is not hot (you will cook the plant), or too cold (it will shock an already compromised immune system).

Be warned - this may or may not work. Persistence goes a long way. Either you will win, or the mites will. Don’t take it personally. A lot depends on just how long the mites have had a chance to settle in.

Keep spraying over the course of a week or two, until your mites are either 1. gone, or 2. you get sick of this.

If your plant gets better, great! But keep it quarantined until you know for sure the mites are gone.

If you get discouraged, it’s often best to throw the plant away. Don’t compost it, since you might spread the mites. Just chuck it and start over.

The best prevention against new mites is daily misting with plain water.

NOTE - you can certainly try a bug spray made for houseplants and mites, but I personally will NOT use those toxins in my home, yard, or around my lungs.