spider mites on Calathea Makoyana Peacock
Quick answer
If your Calathea Makoyana Peacock has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Red spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) colonize Calathea makoyana when the surrounding air is dry, weaving fine webs on the undersides of leaves and between the leaf stalk and stem while piercing cells to suck the sap, which causes the leaves to yellow, fade and eventually wilt or curl as the colony expands.
Start here:
- 1. Spray the entire plant thoroughly with derris, coating the leaf undersides and the leaf-stalk joints where the mites and their webs concentrate.
- 2. Release the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis onto the foliage so it preys on the spider mite colony without harming the calathea.
Why Calathea Makoyana Peacock gets spider mites
calathea makoyana peacock
Red spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) colonize Calathea makoyana when the surrounding air is dry, weaving fine webs on the undersides of leaves and between the leaf stalk and stem while piercing cells to suck the sap, which causes the leaves to yellow, fade and eventually wilt or curl as the colony expands.
How to reverse spider mites on Calathea Makoyana Peacock
- 1
Spray the entire plant thoroughly with derris, coating the leaf undersides and the leaf-stalk joints where the mites and their webs concentrate.
- 2
Release the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis onto the foliage so it preys on the spider mite colony without harming the calathea.
- 3
Inspect the plant frequently with a magnifying glass and isolate or discard badly affected specimens so the infestation cannot spread to nearby houseplants.
Keep spider mites off this Calathea Makoyana Peacock
Mist-spray the calathea daily with soft rainwater to keep humidity high, because red spider mites and most other houseplant pests avoid a humid atmosphere and regular moisture on the leaves disrupts their reproduction before a colony can establish.