spider mites on Ficus
Quick answer
If your Ficus has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Spider mites are tiny arachnids which are very difficult to see, sucking at the plant throughout several larval stages; the foliage turns a dull, mottled, yellowish-green colour. Several varieties of the Ficus genus are susceptible, including Ficus benjamina and F. religiosa. Some Ficus species tolerate low-level mite infestation and adapt accordingly, while other species lose their entire foliage in no time at all once the new growth becomes infested and dies off, leaving very little that can be done to save the plant.
Start here:
- 1. Most of the commercially available sprays are active only against mature adults; certain larval stages and the eggs remain unharmed, so it is necessary to repeat the treatment several times.
- 2. It is also possible to introduce predatory mites into the room. They will attack and eat the plant-eating mites without doing any damage to the bonsais, and such predatory mites can be bought in specialist shops.
Why Ficus gets spider mites
Ficus spp.
Spider mites are tiny arachnids which are very difficult to see, sucking at the plant throughout several larval stages; the foliage turns a dull, mottled, yellowish-green colour. Several varieties of the Ficus genus are susceptible, including Ficus benjamina and F. religiosa. Some Ficus species tolerate low-level mite infestation and adapt accordingly, while other species lose their entire foliage in no time at all once the new growth becomes infested and dies off, leaving very little that can be done to save the plant.
How to reverse spider mites on Ficus
- 1
Most of the commercially available sprays are active only against mature adults; certain larval stages and the eggs remain unharmed, so it is necessary to repeat the treatment several times.
- 2
It is also possible to introduce predatory mites into the room. They will attack and eat the plant-eating mites without doing any damage to the bonsais, and such predatory mites can be bought in specialist shops.
Keep spider mites off this Ficus
Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, so increasing humidity can help deter them, in addition to other treatments. Monitor new growth on Ficus benjamina and F. religiosa for yellow speckling, which is the earliest visual cue of mite feeding.