How to Kill Mites on Plants

Hi Judy,

I have houseplants in my apartment and well, I HAD plants on my balcony. They were destroyed by broad mites and I had to throw them all out, except for the herbs (basil, mint, oregano, lavender) which repel the mites and remain unaffected. I thought the issue had been isolated to the balcony, but given how these broad mites travel, my indoor plants are now showing signs of infestation. I LOVE my plants and this whole experience has been really heartwrenching. I’ve had one of my indoor plants for 8 years – he’s tall beautiful and healthy…but some new leaves growing look abnormal. I have a total of 10 plants inside and I’d like to salvage them, if possible. I’ve read all about these mites and how they lay eggs in the plant, which makes them hard to kill. Is there any type of solution? I appreciate any guidance here.
Thank you!

Hi Melanie,

I am not a big fan of toxic chemicals, but if you want to bring in the heavy guns, buying a miticide at your garden center is the answer.

I prefer non- toxic products. here’s what I use on mites. Click the link to  read about all of these things in the Glossary of the website.

1. Neem Oil: The beneficial ingredient in neem oil is azadireachtin. Azadireachtin, which is an organic product, eliminates plant pests by causing them to stop feeding and reproducing.

https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/neem-oil-non-toxic-plant-insecticide

2. The Green Solution: This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil.

https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/green-solution-for-plant-care

3. Insecticidal Soap: Insecticidal Soap is defined as any of the potassium fatty acid soaps used to control many plant pests and diseases.

https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/insecticidal-plant-soap

I would spray all of your plants, not just the ones showing they are infected.