Question
I have two Ivey plans that I bought from a local store about a month ago.  They looked fine when I bought them, but now are infested with tiny little white bugs that seem to make spider type webs on the leafs.  One of the plats I took into the shower and rinsed it off.  The other one is about 5 feet long hanging and I just threw it away because it was so bad.

I have never had any kind of problem like this before.  What do I do?

Answer
Hi Aaron,

May I introduce you to spider mites? Yes, those tiny critters are a common houseplant pest. They are very commonly found on Hedera ivies, which is what you have.

Liquid dish soap, insecticidal soap, and Hot Pepper Wax (all mixed with water) can 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. With smaller plants, you can fill a sink with soapy water, then invert the plant and swirl all the leaves and stems around in the soapy water for about 30 seconds.

The best mite prevention is vigilance. Any mite-prone plants, such as ivies, 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. Good luck.

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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