Spider Mites on String of Pearls [Reasons & Solutions]

Let’s say you’re growing a couple of beautiful strings of pearls. But recently, the pearls are looking odd and there seems to be some sort of infestation. Chances are, your string of pearls is invaded by spider mites. 

So, what can you do about the spider mites on string of pearls?

First, make sure it’s the spider mites attacking the string of pearls. Look for signs like discoloration and spots on the leaves and web residues. Then, if the spider mites invade the plants, remove them immediately. Finally, apply neem oil to prevent spider mites from attacking the plant again. 

Stay tuned because you’ll need a lot more details.

3 Common Signs of Spider Mites on String of Pearls

Spider mites can cause critical damage to plants. Spider mite infestation can be identified distinctly by tracking a few signs. You can be sure your string of pearls has spider mites if-

• A bronze appearance in some areas of the plant can be seen. This appearance is caused by the little pests. 
• You may inspect silky web residue in between the stems/leaves of the string of pearls.
• You can see some yellow, red, and white spots on the pearls.

Due to spider mites, plants catch on many diseases and die eventually. For example, wrinkled plumeria stems can be originated from spider mites.

If you’re seeing similar signs on your string of pearls, you need to act fast. Now, let’s get the spider mites removed from your string of pearls.

How to Remove Spider Mites from String of Pearls

You can rely on a few methods to remove the spider mites from your string of pearls. I’ve listed the methods in the next segment. Give them a try.

Method 1: Apply Neem Oil

Many natural substances can help plants better protect themselves. In this case, neem oil can protect plants from spider mites. In fact, other pests such as aphids and mealybugs can be also prevented using neem oil. 

Natural substances work best with plants, especially with the string of pearls because this plant’s fragile. That’s why horticultural oils like neem oil can banish spider mites from your plant.

To apply this method-

• First get a spray bottle, some liquid soap, and some high-quality neem oil.
• Then, mix the soap and neem oil with a gallon of water in the spray bottle.
  
• Finally, spray some of this mixture on your string of pearls. Spray heavily on the spider mite-affected areas.

Do this 1-2 times per week. That way, spider mites won’t reproduce around your precious string of pearls! Alternatively, you can also use miticides to get rid of the spider plants. 

Method 2: Clean the String of Pearls

Cleaning the string of pearls is by far the quickest way to get rid of spider mites. Spider mites tend to grow around shelters (leaves, rocks, etc) as mentioned above.

If you clean the area around the plant, the mites won’t find any shelter to grow. Remove any unnecessary rocks and leaf litter. 

Also, clean up the leaf residues from the pot you’re growing the pearls on. Still, it’s not limited to cleaning the area around the plant. 

Get rid of the spider mite-affected leaves if you can. If the mites attacked the stems of the pearls, try cutting the stem off. Because getting rid of the mites is a priority at this point.

However, before doing these, make sure that it doesn’t hamper the growth of the plant. You don’t want to stop the plant’s growth at any point.

Method 3: Release Natural Predators

Although this method might seem sketchy to some people, it’s super effective. Since spider mites are small pests, they can be easily hunted.

Naturally, minute pirate bugs, thrips, and lacewings are predators of spider mites that can eat them. 

Additionally, predator mites are also superior to spider mites. As a result, the predator mites devour the spider mites. But they mostly attack the spider mites that are immobile.

You can use the predator mites to your advantage here. Start by deploying some predator mites on the pot of the string of pearls. Try to deploy a large volume.

If you’re worrying about predator mites harming your plant, don’t stress. The predator mite will go away as soon as they’re done eating the spider mites. Additionally, predator mites don’t like to attack plants anyway.

This whole process may take a few weeks. So sit tight and let the predators do the work for you!

If you know the reasons behind the spider mites, you can prevent them. Let’s look at some of the reasons.

What Can You Do to Prevent Spider Mites in your String of Pearls?

Environmental conditions and other factors are responsible for spider mites in a string of pearls. I’ve listed some effective tips for preventing spider mites below. Check it out.

• Take care of your plant. If your string of pearls is damaged, it will be more prone to spider mites. Eventually, the mites will weaken the plant further.
  A simple cut to the leaves or the stem will make your plant more vulnerable. In such situations, you may use grafting wax to solve the issue.
  It can provide protection to the injured plant. There are many alternatives to grafting wax also which you may use.
  
  
• Avoid keeping your string of pearls in dry and hot environments. Underwatering the string of pearls may just create the perfect dry environment for them. This situation mostly arises in indoor growing areas.
  It’s also essential not to keep the string of pearls in a too-hot environment. Try shifting the plant somewhere temperate.

• Keep a clean area around your plant. Any twigs or leaf litter can act as an ally to spider mites. Dead leaves and small rocks can also be a shelter for them.

• Refrain from overusing nutrients/fertilizers. There are a few common misconceptions about fertilizers for plants.
  For example, many people believe armadillos are kept away by coffee grounds. But that’s a myth. Similarly, many think that the more nitrogen you use on a plant, the better.
  But overusing the nitrogen nutrient may increase the protein level of the sap. This level makes the sap sweeter and invites various pests to the plant.
• Increase humidity around the string of pearls. Increasing the humidity will mitigate the chances of spider mites attacking the plant.
  Also, try watering the string of pearls regularly. If you’re feeling lazy, you can use an automatic plant waterer for convenience.
  
  
• If you’ve got any pest-infected plants, keep them away from the string of pearls. Isolating the plant will keep the plant safe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Why do ants attack the string of pearls?

Ants attack the string of pearls because of the sweet sap. Moreover, a string of pearls is vulnerable to pest attacks because of this. You can decrease the density of sweet sap by decreasing the amounts of nitrogen in the soil. 

What are the symptoms of an unhealthy string of pearls?

An unhealthy string of pearls shows some symptoms such as shriveling leaves, discolored leaves, etc. The plant may also turn brownish due to many insects and lack of watering. To keep your string of pearls fully healthy and happy, water it regularly. Also, use different nutrients on it to increase its growth.

Can a string of pearls be misted?

A string of pearls should not be misted. Misting a string of pearls may give rise to various problems. Spraying the string of pearls is a far better option. Also, make sure the soil doesn’t stay wet for too long. Being dry is alright with a string of pearls but being wet is bad for the plant.

Wrapping up

You’ve reached the end of this article. By now, you should be clear about what causes spider mites on string of pearls. You can also prevent it!

Always remember, prevention is better than cure. So, protect your indoor/outdoor plants from pests from the get-go.

Have a great day.