How to Get Rid of Spider Mites on Houseplants

Spider mites are tiny pests that cause speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing, and you get rid of them by isolating the plant, washing the leaves, and treating repeatedly over a few weeks. They thrive in warm, dry conditions and multiply quickly, so early action matters.

How do I know it is spider mites?

Look for tiny pale or yellow dots (stippling) on leaves, leaves that look dusty or faded, and fine webbing between leaves and stems, especially on the undersides. Hold a white sheet of paper under a leaf and tap it, and you may see tiny moving specks.

Step 1: Isolate the plant

Move it away from other plants right away, since mites spread easily.

Step 2: Rinse the plant

Rinse leaves, including the undersides, with a gentle spray of water in a sink or shower to knock off many mites and webbing. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth where practical.

Step 3: Treat the plant

Common options are insecticidal soap or neem oil-based products, applied to all leaf surfaces including undersides, following the label directions. Test on a small area first, and avoid applying in strong sun.

Step 4: Repeat

Eggs survive many treatments, so repeat every few days to a week for several weeks, per the product instructions, to catch newly hatched mites.

Step 5: Improve conditions

Mites prefer dry air. Raising humidity a little and keeping leaves clean makes life harder for them. Prune heavily infested leaves.

How do I prevent them?

Inspect plants regularly, especially undersides of leaves, and quarantine new plants for a couple of weeks before placing them near others.

Could it be something else?

Speckling can also come from other pests or sun damage. If you are unsure, a photo health check can help identify the likely issue.

Related reading: How to get rid of mealybugs, Should you mist houseplants?