cyclamen mite on African Violet
Quick answer
If your African Violet has cyclamen mite, the most likely cause is: Cyclamen mite (Steneotarsonemus pallidus) infestation on African violet causes leaf curling, stunted growth, and a characteristic silvery sheen on leaf surfaces due to feeding damage on plant cells.
Start here:
- 1. Inspect new plants with 10x magnification before adding to collection; quarantine all new acquisitions for 2-3 weeks
- 2. Apply spinosad-based miticide every 5-7 days for 3-4 applications to break the mite lifecycle
Why African Violet gets cyclamen mite
Cyclamen mite (Steneotarsonemus pallidus) infestation on African violet causes leaf curling, stunted growth, and a characteristic silvery sheen on leaf surfaces due to feeding damage on plant cells.
How to reverse cyclamen mite on African Violet
- 1
Inspect new plants with 10x magnification before adding to collection; quarantine all new acquisitions for 2-3 weeks
- 2
Apply spinosad-based miticide every 5-7 days for 3-4 applications to break the mite lifecycle
- 3
Use a cloth dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean leaf surfaces before treatment
- 4
Repeat treatment after 5 days to kill newly hatched nymphs — eggs are resistant to most miticides
- 5
Dispose of severely infested plants to prevent spread to healthy collection members
Keep cyclamen mite off this African Violet
Isolate new plants for 2-3 weeks before introducing to collection; avoid placing African violets near cyclamen or related plants; inspect plants regularly with 10x magnification.