Spider Mites
(January 2012)
I have a very old (20 years) croton plant that has deep sentimental meaning to me.
This summer I put it outside and it was very happy and turned beautiful colors. However,
since I brought it inside, it has been dropping leaves. At first, I thought it was
just adjusting to the climate change, but today I noticed fine web-like stuff in the
crotches of the branches. as leaves continue to drop. I sprayed it with Neem oil and
washed off the webs with Murphy's oil soap. I also moved it into my greenhouse so
it can get more light and humidity. What else should I do to save it? Is there danger
of whatever is on it infecting my other plants in my greenhouse?
There is definitely a chance that the insects will move from one plant to another,
particularly in a closed environment of a greenhouse. It sounds like spider mites
to me. The Neem oil and the Murphy's Oil soap should definitely help, but keep it
isolated from your other plants and monitor it. Keep the soil on the dry side, but
try spraying the foliage with water periodically, as spider mites thrive when dry.
Don't expect miraculous new growth until the day length increases, but I would suspect
it will rebound. The more light they get, the more colorful their foliage. Good luck!
All links to external sites open in a new window. You may return to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture web site by closing this window when you are finished. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the information, or the accessibility for people with disabilities listed at any external site.
Links to commercial sites are provided for information and convenience only. Inclusion of sites does not imply University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's approval of their product or service to the exclusion of others that may be similar, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the products or service offered.
The mention of any commercial product in this web site does not imply its endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture over other products not named, nor does the omission imply that they are not satisfactory.