spider mites on Asian Taro
Quick answer
If your Asian Taro has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Spider mites thrive on houseplants when the air around them is hot and dry; on Colocasia (asian taro), which will only grow well at humidity of 50 percent or greater and does not appreciate drying out, the dry indoor conditions that the plant dislikes are exactly the conditions that spider mites prefer, and the foliage takes on a stippling effect from feeding before webbing becomes visible.
Start here:
- 1. Wash the foliage off with a strong stream of warm water to dislodge mites and their webbing from the large Colocasia leaves, supporting the leaf from below while you rinse so the petiole is not snapped.
- 2. Spray thoroughly — top and underside of every leaf and the petiole join — with insecticidal soap or All Seasons Horticultural Oil, repeating on the schedule the label directs because these contact treatments do not persist after they dry.
Why Asian Taro gets spider mites
asian taro
Spider mites thrive on houseplants when the air around them is hot and dry; on Colocasia (asian taro), which will only grow well at humidity of 50 percent or greater and does not appreciate drying out, the dry indoor conditions that the plant dislikes are exactly the conditions that spider mites prefer, and the foliage takes on a stippling effect from feeding before webbing becomes visible.
How to reverse spider mites on Asian Taro
- 1
Wash the foliage off with a strong stream of warm water to dislodge mites and their webbing from the large Colocasia leaves, supporting the leaf from below while you rinse so the petiole is not snapped.
- 2
Spray thoroughly — top and underside of every leaf and the petiole join — with insecticidal soap or All Seasons Horticultural Oil, repeating on the schedule the label directs because these contact treatments do not persist after they dry.
Keep spider mites off this Asian Taro
Hold indoor humidity around 50 percent or higher with a cool-mist humidifier or a pebble tray, keep the potting mix consistently moist rather than letting it dry between waterings, and avoid placing Colocasia near a hot sunny window where mites multiply fastest.