Especially in the winter months, ivy, which is cultivated as a houseplant, suffers from the infestation of spider mites. These pests should not be underestimated under any circumstances, because they spread quickly and can damage the ivy in such a way that it can no longer be saved. Identify and fight spider mites.
Spider mites first show up on the underside of leaves
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 can be seen a little better because of its colour. The pests appear mainly 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 over the entire plant within a few days. They suck the leaves, causing them to 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 coated with a slightly sticky film.
Fight spider mites
Get rid of spider mites as soon as possible. Otherwise, the spread can hardly be stopped. To do this, place the ivy in the bathtub or shower and rinse it off well.
To effectively combat spider mites, you need to significantly increase the humidity. Therefore, after rinsing, wrap the ivy in a transparent plastic bag that you only pull over the crown. The spider mites then die off within a short time.
When caring for ivy in the greenhouse, it is worth getting predatory mites from specialist retailers. They eliminate spider mites in a completely non-toxic way.
Dry air favors spider mites
You can prevent an infestation of spider mites in winter by preventing the air from being too dry.
Do not place ivy near heat sources or in direct sunlight, and regularly spray the plants with water from a spray bottle.
tips
To increase the humidity, it is often recommended to place the pot with the ivy on a saucer. In the case of ivy, however, it is better not to use saucers, as the plant will die when it is wet. It is better to place bowls of water near the ivy.