spider mites on Zz Plant Raven
Quick answer
If your Zz Plant Raven has spider mites, the most likely cause is: Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven is prone to red spider mite infestations because the dry indoor air of centrally heated rooms lets the mites colonise the undersides of the waxy leaflets, where their fine webbing and stippled damage are easy to overlook against the dark Raven foliage until the infestation has spread through the canopy.
Start here:
- 1. Use a magnifying glass to inspect the undersides of the leaflets and the petiole-rhizome junctions, then spray the plant with an insecticide or use a biological control until the colony is gone, isolating the Raven from other houseplants so the mites do not spread during treatment.
- 2. Mist the Raven foliage daily and stand the pot on a pebble-filled tray of water to raise ambient humidity, because red spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions and the raised humidity disrupts their reproductive cycle.
Why Zz Plant Raven gets spider mites
Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven
Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven is prone to red spider mite infestations because the dry indoor air of centrally heated rooms lets the mites colonise the undersides of the waxy leaflets, where their fine webbing and stippled damage are easy to overlook against the dark Raven foliage until the infestation has spread through the canopy.
How to reverse spider mites on Zz Plant Raven
- 1
Use a magnifying glass to inspect the undersides of the leaflets and the petiole-rhizome junctions, then spray the plant with an insecticide or use a biological control until the colony is gone, isolating the Raven from other houseplants so the mites do not spread during treatment.
- 2
Mist the Raven foliage daily and stand the pot on a pebble-filled tray of water to raise ambient humidity, because red spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions and the raised humidity disrupts their reproductive cycle.
Keep spider mites off this Zz Plant Raven
Be vigilant and inspect the undersides of the leaflets regularly, because red spider mite colonies caught early with a magnifying glass are far easier to control than the bleached-speckled foliage and webbing that signals a fully established infestation on Raven.