spider mites on Lipstick Plant
Quick answer
If your Lipstick Plant has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Spider mites are named alongside mealybugs as a recurring pest of Aeschynanthus (lipstick plant) species such as A. radicans and A. japhrolepsis; dry indoor air, drafts, and proximity to radiators make the trailing foliage of this tropical vine especially inviting to them.
Start here:
- 1. Shower down all of the stems and leaves with a gentle stream of water, hanging the plant over the bath so the long lipstick plant vines are flushed clean of mites and webbing.
- 2. After rinsing, spray the entire Aeschynanthus — including the undersides of the leaves — with an organic neem oil solution to kill remaining spider mites and disrupt new hatchings.
Why Lipstick Plant gets spider mites
Aeschynanthus radicans
Spider mites are named alongside mealybugs as a recurring pest of Aeschynanthus (lipstick plant) species such as A. radicans and A. japhrolepsis; dry indoor air, drafts, and proximity to radiators make the trailing foliage of this tropical vine especially inviting to them.
How to reverse spider mites on Lipstick Plant
- 1
Shower down all of the stems and leaves with a gentle stream of water, hanging the plant over the bath so the long lipstick plant vines are flushed clean of mites and webbing.
- 2
After rinsing, spray the entire Aeschynanthus — including the undersides of the leaves — with an organic neem oil solution to kill remaining spider mites and disrupt new hatchings.
Keep spider mites off this Lipstick Plant
Mist the lipstick plant frequently to maintain a warm, humid microclimate, keep it away from drafts and radiators, and consider hanging it in a brightly lit bathroom so the consistently humid air suppresses spider mite colonisation of Aeschynanthus foliage.