spider mites on Maranta Leuconeura
Quick answer
If your Maranta Leuconeura has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Marantas (Maranta leuconeura and its cultivars) are recognised as slightly more liable to red spider mite attack than the closely related calatheas, and the infestation is extremely difficult to detect at an early stage because the mites shelter on the undersides of the thin maranta leaves; hardening of the leaf surface and a general lack of vigour in the plant are usually the first visible signs, by which point the pest has typically taken hold.
Start here:
- 1. Inspect the undersides of leaves with a magnifying glass as soon as spider mites are suspected, because once they have taken hold on a maranta they are difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate.
- 2. Spray the plant with malathion at the earliest stage, paying particular attention to the undersides of the leaves; repeat the treatment at intervals of a few days to kill newly hatched mites.
Why Maranta Leuconeura gets spider mites
maranta leuconeura
Marantas (Maranta leuconeura and its cultivars) are recognised as slightly more liable to red spider mite attack than the closely related calatheas, and the infestation is extremely difficult to detect at an early stage because the mites shelter on the undersides of the thin maranta leaves; hardening of the leaf surface and a general lack of vigour in the plant are usually the first visible signs, by which point the pest has typically taken hold.
How to reverse spider mites on Maranta Leuconeura
- 1
Inspect the undersides of leaves with a magnifying glass as soon as spider mites are suspected, because once they have taken hold on a maranta they are difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate.
- 2
Spray the plant with malathion at the earliest stage, paying particular attention to the undersides of the leaves; repeat the treatment at intervals of a few days to kill newly hatched mites.
- 3
Alternatively, insert a systemic insecticide such as disulfoton into the soil; test the solution on a single leaf and allow a day or two for it to take effect before treating the whole plant.
Keep spider mites off this Maranta Leuconeura
Maintain a stable temperature of around 70°F (21°C) with a range between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (23°C); avoid drafty windowsills and never let the plant stand in cold draughty air, because Marantaceae are as vulnerable to environmental stress as they are to pest outbreaks.