Question
Dear Will Creed,
I have a dracaena that is covered in very fine white cobwebs (for
lack of a better word). These have small dark specks in them,
which I am assuming are the bugs that are making this filmy
white substance. It doesn't seem to be affecting the plant's
vigour TOO much, but it's not good for it! And I'm afraid to
move it close to any of my other house plants for fear of its
spreading. Do you know what this is, and do you have any
advice for a safe way of curing it?

Gratefully,
Lesley

Answer
Hi Lesley,

Your Dracaena has a spider mite infestation. Spider mites are very tiny and they look like dust particles to the naked eye, often hiding on the undersides of leaves. By the time they start making webs, they are already well established and can be difficult to eradicate.

Plain soap and water, insecticidal soap, and Hot Pepper Wax can all be used safely to treat spider mites. The key with all of these products is to get 100% coverage of ALL leaf and stem surfaces - top and bottom. If you miss a few of the mites, which is easy to do, then they will start to reproduce and you will have another infestation again in a few weeks.

Try to spray in a location where you can thoroughly drench all leaf surfaces without worrying about all the run-off. Run your fingers along leaf and stem surfaces to help get complete surface coverage (use rubber or latex gloves to avoid skin irritation. It is also advisable to re-spray again about 5 days later to get any mites that you may have missed the first time.

The best mite prevention is vigilance. Any mite-prone plants, such as Dracaenas and palms, should be checked every week for early signs of mites - look for "dust" particles on the undersides of leaves. Treat the mites at the very first sighting. They are much easier to eliminate in the early stages. Once the treatment has started, then the mites are unlikley to contaminate other plants. However, you should carefully check any nearby plants that may have already been exposed to the mites.

Good luck and please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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