Spider mites on plants are a headache for outdoor gardens, houseplants and greenhouse plants Once they get a foothold these tiny tiny bugs are tricky to fight Learn how to combat these common plant pests

Spider mites are often found on the underside of leaves in the early stages of infestation Once they are established, you will see webbing much like spider webs

These pests are a sucking variety, and attach themselves to plant cells, sucking out the juices The leaf cell dies eventually and the leaf is riddled with yellow spots

Spider mites go everywhere and travel in many ways You can bring them home from the store on plants,  your clothes when you go from plant to plant, and they can travel on their own tiny silken web threads All they need is a tiny breeze and they can get quite far

Carefully examine plants before purchasing Quarantine all new plants for a period Do weekly inspections and leaf washing Keep leaves moist and in a humid environment

It is important to properly dispose of infected plants Seal the plant in a garbage bag Throw it away in an outside garbage can Sterilize everything the plant came in contact with Check and care for other plants that were in the vicinity