If you notice that something is eating your Spider Plant, you can either blame it on pests or look for solutions. If you notice scale bugs, spider mites, aphids, or fungus gnats, these are all likely culprits. Read on for helpful tips. Listed below are some of the most common types of pests and what to do about them. Follow these tips and you will have a healthy Spider Plant in no time!
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Scale bugs
If you notice shell-like bumps on your spider plant, it is probably a scale bug infestation. These insects are characterized by hard, brown outer shells, similar to barnacles on beach rocks at low tide. The larvae feed on individual stem, limb, and foliage cells. The damage they cause is often difficult to detect, but it can be treated by removing the insects using a blunt blade or fingernail.
To control the problem, you must first identify the specific type of scale bug. If you miss a single scale, they may fly to a neighboring plant or catch a ride on an animal. This can spread the infestation very quickly. Therefore, it is essential to act quickly and treat your spider plant as soon as you notice the problem. Scale bugs are very hard to identify with the naked eye. To find them, you can use a pocket magnifying glass or double-sided tape.
Spider mites
If you notice that your spider plant is suffering from a spider mite problem, there are some natural remedies you can try. First, you can try using cinnamonite, a pesticide made from the oil of cinnamon. It works by killing adult spider mites, but you need to repeat the treatment every three days for a couple of weeks. Neem oil, derived from the nuts of the neem evergreen tree, is another treatment that is effective against spider mites. It takes time for the chemicals to take effect, so make sure to rotate between different plants to prevent any lingering effects.
Spraying neem oil on the plant’s leaves is an effective treatment for spider mites. But be sure to thoroughly spray the plant, including the undersides. Otherwise, you risk re-infestation. The best time to spray is late in the evening, when the plant will be in its least exposed to sunlight. If the mites continue to appear, separate the affected plant from the rest of your collection, such as cactus or ferns. Wiping off the leaves and misting regularly will help deter them as well.
Aphids
If you’ve noticed that the leaves of your spider plant are yellowing and wilting, this could be an aphid infestation. These pear-shaped bugs, which live in clusters, excrete honeydew on the foliage of spider plants. Aphids are harmful to your plants because they can cause bacterial wilt and other potentially deadly diseases. You can identify these pests by looking for yellow leaves, tiny webbings on the leaves of your plants, and wilted or yellowing leaves.
You can see the scales on your plants with the naked eye, and you can even remove them with a waterblast. They are not fast-moving, and their presence can cause the leaves to drop. When this happens, the spider plant will likely die. If the infestation is severe, you may need to cut off the affected leaves and plant other plants until the aphids have been controlled. Fortunately, you can prevent aphid attacks by sprinkling neem oil on your plants every few weeks.
Fungus gnats
If you have a spider plant, you may be experiencing a problem with fungus gnats. These pests can appear in spider plants for various reasons, and the most common reason is the condition of the soil around the plant. When the soil becomes damp or damaged, fungus gnats can develop and become an infestation problem. To help control these pests, you can use horticultural oil, neem oil, and synthetic pesticides. It’s important to treat fungus gnats before the problem gets too severe because the larvae can cause noticeable damage to your plant’s roots.
Fortunately, killing fungus gnats isn’t as difficult as you might think. Fortunately, you can prevent the gnats from entering your home in the first place by disrupting their life cycle. One of the easiest ways to prevent fungus gnats from attacking your plant is to let the soil dry between waterings. By doing so, you will discourage new fungus gnat adults from laying eggs in the soil.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are soft-bodied scale insects that feed on the sap of spider plants. Like whiteflies, they are attracted to spider plants because they produce a sticky substance called honeydew, which is ideal for the growth of mold. If you suspect that mealybugs are eating your spider plant, follow these simple steps to eliminate them:
Mealybugs lay eggs under a waxy coating on the plants they eat. The eggs hatch in a few days and the nymphs grow into adults. This process continues year-round in greenhouses, though at a much slower rate than in the garden. While you may think that mealybugs only affect tropical plants, they are more likely to appear on indoor plants, particularly those with softer stems. Other popular plants that are vulnerable to mealybugs include amaryllis, begonia, and African violets.
