Plant SOS · Pests
Spider mites on houseplants: how to identify
and treat them
Spider mites are among the most difficult pests to detect — and the most destructive if left unchecked. These microscopic mites are invisible to the naked eye, but their damage is very characteristic: leaves that gradually dull, dotted with tiny yellow or silvery spots, and fine silky threads under the leaves and between stems in advanced cases.
They thrive in conditions opposite to other pests: hot, dry air is favorable to them. Winter with heating, summer heatwaves — these are their two favorite periods. The solution is therefore twofold: treat the infestation and modify the environment.
Identify spider mites
They are invisible to the naked eye — barely 0.5 mm. It's their damage and traces that are identified, not the insect itself.
🔍 Identification sheet — spider mites
Yellow, beige, or silvery spots evenly distributed on the upper surface of the leaf. The leaf loses its luster and becomes dull, like "sandblasted".
Fine white-grey threads under the leaves and between stems in advanced cases. Resembles a very fine spider web.
Place a white paper under the leaf and tap it. If tiny dots move on the paper — these are living mites.
Hot, dry air (humidity below 40%). Hot drafts, radiator, heatwave. Plant near a heat source.
"Spider mites hate humidity.
It's your best weapon against them."
Assess the stage of infestation
A few yellow spots on 1-2 leaves. No visible webbing. Leaf still green.
Shower + neem oil × 3 weeksYellow spots on several leaves. Leaves dulling. Initial webbing under some leaves.
Isolate + intensive treatment + humidifyWebbing everywhere, silvery or grey leaves, leaf drop. Colonies visible with a magnifying glass.
Severe pruning + treatment + re-evaluate locationWhy they proliferate — the conditions
Understanding what favors spider mites allows you to fight them on two fronts: treatment AND environmental modification.
- 🌡️ Temperature above 25°C
- 💨 Humidity below 40%
- 🔥 Plant near a radiator
- 💧 Leaves never humidified
- 🌬️ Stagnant and dry air
- ☀️ Direct sun exposure
- 💧 Humidity above 60%
- 🌡️ Cool temperature (18-22°C)
- 🚿 Leaves misted regularly
- 🌬️ Renewed air — good ventilation
- 🌱 Grouped plants — humid microclimate
The 4-step treatment
Isolate and rinse thoroughly
Immediately isolate the plant. Then rinse it under a lukewarm water jet — top AND bottom of the leaves, focusing on infested areas. This first step physically eliminates a large part of the colonies and their webbing. Spider mites hate water — it's their Achilles' heel.
Neem oil or insecticidal soap treatment
Prepare a solution: 5 ml of neem oil + a few drops of liquid soap for 1 liter of water. Spray generously on the entire plant, focusing on the underside of the leaves — that's where the colonies live. Neem suffocates the mites and disrupts their reproduction. Repeat every 5 days for 3 to 4 weeks.
Immediately increase ambient humidity
This is the most important measure to stop proliferation. Mist the foliage morning and evening. Group plants together to create a more humid microclimate. Place a humidifier nearby if possible. Move the plant away from any dry heat source — radiator, hot air vent, sunny window.
In case of severe infestation — acaricidal insecticide spray
For very advanced infestations with widespread webbing and leaf drop, an insecticide spray with acaricidal action yields faster results. Apply in a well-ventilated area, on the entire plant, focusing on the underside of the leaves. Always combine with humidification measures.
The problem of resistance
Spider mites develop resistance to chemical treatments astonishingly quickly — sometimes in a single generation. This is one reason why a single treatment often fails.
⚠ How to avoid resistance
Alternate treatments: don't repeat the same product every week. Alternate between neem oil (week 1), thorough rinsing (week 2), insecticide spray if necessary (week 3), back to neem (week 4). This rotation prevents mites from developing resistance to a specific product.
Never stop treatment too early: eggs are resistant to all contact treatments. Only larvae and adults are affected. Without 4 weeks of continuous treatment, a new generation will emerge from surviving eggs.
Prevention — humidity as the main weapon
Once the infestation is eliminated, maintaining high humidity is your best protection against the return of spider mites.
🌿 To treat and prevent
Our recommended products
- 🌿 Pokon Stubborn Insect Spray 750ml — fast acaricidal action
- 💦 Green Glass Mister — humidify foliage daily
- 💦 Premium 300ml Mister — fine mist for treatment
- ✨ Leaf Shine Spray — strengthens and protects foliage
Also find all our care tools and accessories:
View our care tools →These guides might also help you
Douceur Maison · Shop
Robust plants,
naturally resistant
Our plants are selected for their vigor and ability to withstand apartment conditions.
View our robust plants🌿 Unsure about your plant?
Even if several symptoms look similar,
their origin can be very different.
Answer a few questions and find the most probable cause.
Free • Less than a minute • No registration required
Start the diagnosis🌿 Guide written by the Douceur Maison Plant SOS team.
We write practical guides to help enthusiasts care for their houseplants. · sosplantes@douceurmaison.fr