red spider mites on Bromeliad
Quick answer
If your Bromeliad has red spider mites, the most likely cause is: Red spider mites are tiny oval-shaped yellow-green, red, or brown creatures that pierce bromeliad foliage and feed on cell contents; they proliferate in dry conditions, so a bromeliad kept too dry in hot weather is especially susceptible to an infestation that causes foliage to become pale and stippled and to lose vigor.
Start here:
- 1. Mist bromeliads two or three times a day in hot weather to keep humidity high, because misting discourages insects, especially red spider mites, which proliferate in dry conditions.
- 2. Spray the plant with a strong jet of water at the sink, gently massaging the leaf axils with water and then wiping the leaves so they are clean and free of any pests.
Why Bromeliad gets red spider mites
Bromeliaceae (family)
Red spider mites are tiny oval-shaped yellow-green, red, or brown creatures that pierce bromeliad foliage and feed on cell contents; they proliferate in dry conditions, so a bromeliad kept too dry in hot weather is especially susceptible to an infestation that causes foliage to become pale and stippled and to lose vigor.
How to reverse red spider mites on Bromeliad
- 1
Mist bromeliads two or three times a day in hot weather to keep humidity high, because misting discourages insects, especially red spider mites, which proliferate in dry conditions.
- 2
Spray the plant with a strong jet of water at the sink, gently massaging the leaf axils with water and then wiping the leaves so they are clean and free of any pests.
- 3
Apply a laundry-soap-and-water mixture (half a bar of Ivory per 5 quarts of water) over the plant and rinse with tepid water, repeating at three-day intervals to suppress remaining mites.
Keep red spider mites off this Bromeliad
Keep humidity high around bromeliads by setting potted plants on beds of gravel kept moist and by misting frequently in hot, dry weather, because red spiders weave telltale webs only after they have multiplied under low-humidity conditions.