spider mites on Caladium
Quick answer
If your Caladium has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Spider mites are tiny arachnids that pierce individual caladium leaf cells and suck out the contents, leaving behind a fine stippling of tiny yellow dots on the broad, papery leaf surface; they thrive in the warm, dry indoor air that caladiums often experience when humidity drops, and they spread rapidly from plant to plant.
Start here:
- 1. Rinse the entire caladium with a strong stream of lukewarm water, focusing on the leaf undersides, to physically dislodge the mites and break up their fine webbing, and repeat the rinse on a regular interval until no new stippling appears.
- 2. Apply an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil spray to the foliage, coating both sides of the leaves, and isolate the infested caladium from other houseplants because spider mites travel on air currents and on tools and hands.
Why Caladium gets spider mites
Caladium bicolor
Spider mites are tiny arachnids that pierce individual caladium leaf cells and suck out the contents, leaving behind a fine stippling of tiny yellow dots on the broad, papery leaf surface; they thrive in the warm, dry indoor air that caladiums often experience when humidity drops, and they spread rapidly from plant to plant.
How to reverse spider mites on Caladium
- 1
Rinse the entire caladium with a strong stream of lukewarm water, focusing on the leaf undersides, to physically dislodge the mites and break up their fine webbing, and repeat the rinse on a regular interval until no new stippling appears.
- 2
Apply an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil spray to the foliage, coating both sides of the leaves, and isolate the infested caladium from other houseplants because spider mites travel on air currents and on tools and hands.
Keep spider mites off this Caladium
Maintain high humidity around the caladium by grouping it with other tropicals or by using a humidity tray, since spider mite outbreaks are most common in warm, dry indoor air; inspect new plants carefully and quarantine them before placing them near the caladium.