Spider mites are pests that are commonly found in areas where the weather is hot and the wind is dry. These pests can be found on both indoor and outdoor plants.
It is important to treat a plant as soon as possible if it has been infected with spider mites in order to keep it healthy and alive.
If you are unable to get rid of all spider mites on your plant, they will start to repopulate. However, there can be other reasons why spider mites might keep coming back.
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Why Do Spider Mites Keep Coming Back?
Spider mites keep coming back to your plants because the conditions you provide for your plants are ideal for them. If your plant was previously infested by spider mites, it is likely that you never got rid of them completely. There can be other reasons why spider mites keep coming back. They might be traveling on clothes and pets. Use organic solutions like neem oil or spray your plant with soapy water to end the infestation once and for all.
Ways Through Which Spider Mites Come Back
Spider mites are insects that are often hard to get rid of once they have multiplied into large numbers.
Even when you think you have gotten rid of them, they often find many ways to travel back onto your plants.
Clothes
Spider mites are capable of attaching themselves to clothes. This allows them to easily travel from one area to another.
If you previously had a plant that was infested with spider mites, and you left it outside where you hang laundry, you should dust off each pair of clothing before you bring back it inside.
Pets
Dogs and cats often carry spider mites with them when they come back from playing outdoors.
Your pets are the best place for these tiny insects to hide as the animal fur hides them well.
Dusty Environment
Having a lot of dust surrounding your plants also attracts spider mites to the area. Dusty areas are usually dry, and they provide the perfect cover for these pests.
When spider mites attack plants, they look like specks of dust, and having dust around a plant can allow them to disguise themselves.
Conditions That Favor Spider Mites
The majority of the spider mite species thrive in hot and dry conditions. Thus, if your plant is put through a period of drought, you will see its numbers grow on your plant.
When you are growing plants indoors, make sure they are properly watered. This is because underwatered plants are also another target for spider mites.
If you apply too many nutrients to your plants, they can become more susceptible to these pests. Too much nitrogen attracts spider mites to your plant.
This is because an excessive amount of nitrogen has something known as “funny proteins.”
These proteins do not benefit plants in any way, but they make the sap sweet, and this sweet sap attracts spider mites.
To avoid this issue, you simply need to supply your plant with proper nutrients.
Spider mites are also harder to get rid of on larger plants. Thus, you must observe every part of your plant and properly use treatments to get rid of them.
Ways to Keep Spider Mites Away from Indoor Plants
Insecticide soap
You can kill these pests by using insecticidal soap. Insecticidal soap can even be made at home and does not need to be bought from a store.
You simply need one teaspoon of liquid soap and one liter of tepid water.
Mix these two ingredients together and put them into a spray bottle. Directly spray each of the leaves on your plant. Leave the spray on for a few hours, and then wash off your plant.
Neem oil
Neem oil is an organic solution and is effective when it comes to controlling spider mite infestation.
This is also a long-term solution to the problem as neem oil can get rid of bugs a lot faster as compared to other methods.
It is also better to buy a neem oil concentrate and prepare your own neem oil mix at home.
You simply need to add one and a half teaspoon of neem oil concentrate, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and one liter of tepid water.
Using hot pepper wax spray or horticultural oil also works well against spider mites.
High Humidity Levels
Humidity levels are easy to manipulate around plants. Since spider mites love to live in dry conditions, keeping the humidity surrounding your plant at a higher level can help prevent their spread.
This is one of the easiest and simplest methods to get rid of spider mites. You should also ensure that the plant is being properly watered so that it is well hydrated.
Misting your plant occasionally can prevent the growth of spider mites. You can also leave a water container close to your plant so that once the water evaporates, the humidity levels can rise.
Using a humidifier will help you to increase humidity levels. If you live in an area where the weather is dry, make sure to use more than one method to increase the humidity level.
Frequently Asked Questions about why Spider Mites are coming back
Can the use of predatory mites stop spider mites from coming back?
Predatory mites such as ladybugs and lacewings are beneficial for your plant. These insects are capable of reducing the spread of spider mites and can even kill them before they multiply.
Will quarantining my plant stop spider mites from coming back?
Quarantining your plant will not stop spider mites from coming back. However, it will reduce the risk of them spreading on to other plants.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.