Plant problems · Pests · Any stage · Act today
Spider mites
What you see
- Tiny white or yellow dots on the top of leaves
- Fine webbing between leaves and buds
- Very small moving dots on the underside of leaves (use a magnifier)
- Leaves turn dull and dry
Why it happens
Mites thrive in warm, dry rooms and multiply very fast. They come in on clothes, pets or new plants.
What to do
- Isolate the plant and act the same day
- Spray the undersides of all leaves with an insecticidal soap or a mite product allowed for edible plants, every 3 days for two weeks (veg and early flower only)
- Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus, Amblyseius) are the safest fix in flower
- Raise humidity a little: mites hate humid air
Next time
- Check the underside of leaves weekly
- Quarantine new plants and clones
Easy to confuse with
- Calcium deficiency: Small brown spots with sharp edges on new and middle leaves
- Thrips: Silvery, shiny scratches on leaves
- Russet and broad mites: Leaves curl up at the edges and turn shiny, glossy or bronze
Not sure?
Take a photo of the underside of a leaf, very close, and any webbing and ask the Grow Doctor, or send it to the grow companion on Telegram.