Combating Spider Mites
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) are a huge challenge this time of year. To help "with the battle", I found a great article in Garden Design that I wanted to share. Here is a link to the article as well as a few excerpts.
Identify Damage Caused By Spider Mites
Spider mites have piercing-sucking mouthparts that they use to feed on plant sap, extracting fluids from leaf tissues. This results in clusters of tiny white or yellow spots on foliage in a stippled pattern. Leaves can curl and become brown and dull, which is sometimes mistaken as drought stress.
As their numbers grow, spider mite damage becomes more evident. Leaves turn yellow and drop off, while plants become increasingly weakened and unsightly. For shrubs such as azaleas, leaves and flowers can become deformed. In severe cases, complete defoliation can occur, causing the plant to die. For fruit crops, harvests can be greatly diminished.
In cool climates, spider mites overwinter as eggs and hatch in spring; but in warmer climates, they can feed on plants year-round. Emerging larvae become mature adults in just 1-2 weeks, building colonies on the underside of leaves. Several generations occur throughout the growing season, though they can live year-round indoors. Their populations multiply rapidly as the weather warms, becoming most prevalent during summer when conditions are hot and dry.
Inspect plants: Check plants regularly to identify any pests or diseases, as much as twice a week during drought conditions when spider mites thrive. It's important to discern whether problems are due to insect damage, disease, nutritional deficiency or cultural practices before determining a course of action.
Know the signs: Since spider mites are tough to spot with the naked eye, look for telltale signs of their activity. One indication is the presence of fine webbing, particularly on the underside of leaves and at branch intersections.
Take a closer look: Inspect the underside of affected leaves with a magnifier to see if you can spot them. Hold a piece of white paper underneath the leaves and gently tap the plant to shake bugs loose. Spider mites will be easier to see against the light-colored backdrop.
Treating Houseplants
Keep it humid: Spider mites thrive in dry conditions. Boost room humidity, particularly in winter when household air is dry. Use a room humidifier or regularly mist plants with a spray bottle. Another alternative is to place plants on trays filled with pebbles and a small amount of water. Don't allow the bottom of the pot to sit in standing water.
Clean leaves: Wipe leaves regularly with a damp cloth to remove and deter pests.
Remove pests: Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap or use a cotton swab dipped in diluted 70% rubbing alcohol to kill visible pests.
Use neem oil cautiously: If applying neem oil, take care not to get the oil on clothing, furniture or other household items.