spider mites on Bromeliads
Quick answer
If your Bromeliads has 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 becomes pale and stippled and loses vigor as the mites weave telltale webs.
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 Bromeliads gets spider mites
Bromeliaceae
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 becomes pale and stippled and loses vigor as the mites weave telltale webs.
How to reverse spider mites on Bromeliads
- 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 over the plant and rinse with tepid water, repeating at three-day intervals to suppress remaining mites.
Keep spider mites off this Bromeliads
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.