Especially in the winter months, ivy, which is cultivated as a houseplant, suffers from spider mite infestation. These pests should definitely not be underestimated because they spread quickly and can damage the ivy to such an extent that it can no longer be saved. Recognize and combat spider mites.
How to control spider mites on ivy?
To protect ivy from spider mites, the humidity should be increased by regular spraying. Infected plants can be sprayed with water and wrapped in a plastic bag to kill the mites. Alternatively, predatory mites can be used.
How to recognize a spider mite infestation
Spider mites are very small and can hardly be seen with the naked eye. Only the red spider mite is a little easier to see because of its color. The pests mainly occur in winter when the air in the room is very dry due to the heating.
Spider mites are mainly found on the undersides of leaves and in the leaf axils. From there they often spread throughout the plant within a few days. They suck out the leaves so that they dry up and fall off.
A sign of a spider mite infestation are small spider webs that appear on the underside of leaves. Here the leaves are also covered with a slightly sticky film.
Fighting spider mites
Take control of spider mites as soon as possible. Otherwise it will be difficult to stop the spread. To do this, place the ivy in the bathtub or shower and give it a good shower.
To effectively combat spider mites, you need to significantly increase the humidity. After spraying, cover the ivy with a transparent plastic bag that you only pull over the crown. The spider mites then die within a short time.
When caring for ivy in the greenhouse, it is worth getting predatory mites from specialist retailers (€8.00 on Amazon). They eliminate spider mites in a completely non-toxic way.
Dry air favors spider mites
You can prevent spider mite infestations in winter by preventing the air from being too dry.
Do not place ivy next to heat sources or directly in the sun and spray the plants regularly with water from the spray bottle.
Tip
To increase the humidity, it is often recommended to place the pot with the ivy on a saucer. However, it is better to avoid using saucers for ivy, as the plant will die if water accumulates. It is cheaper to place bowls of water near the ivy.