There are many ways that spider mites get on plants. One way is a live, infested plant that has been gifted to you or came from a store or garden center. Spider mites multiply quickly and can rapidly spread to other plants if they are near each other or by the wind. Always quarantine plants that you get from others or from stores or garden centers to prevent an infestation of other plants in your home or garden. If you put indoor plants outside during the summer months, quarantine them when you bring them back in as well.
Another way spider mites get on plants is humans and pets. Spider mites can temporarily hide in clothing, shoes, and in our animals’ fur before spreading to plants. Make sure to wash and dry clothing regularly to minimize your plants’ exposure to spider mites. Practice good pet hygiene, like regular bathing and brushing of your dog, to help prevent spider mite exposure.
Spider mites can get on plants that are not washed regularly. Dusty plants become a haven for spider mites, but regularly washing the plants can prevent them from becoming dusty, can get rid of spider mites already on the plant, and prevent them from spreading.
Spider mites love nitrogen-rich plants. Plants naturally produce nitrogen, but when a plant overproduces nitrogen, its sap becomes sweeter and attracts spider mites. To minimize your plant from overproducing nitrogen, make sure to feed it the nutrients it needs to be happy and healthy.
The bigger the plant is, the more area spider mites eat, breed, and destroy. Spider mites prefer broad, thin, soft-tissue plant leaves like cannabis, alocasia, dieffenbachia, Chinese evergreens, palms, ivy, marantas, adansonii, calatheas, tropical hibiscus, and primrose. Using Trifecta Crop Control as a preventative and/or regular monitoring will ensure you keep spider mites at bay.