According to the University of Arizona's Cooperative Extension, spider mites are a pest and potential hazard to the yucca plant. Spider mites are small and live on the underside of leaves where they produce silk webbing reminiscent of a spider web. Spider mites damage the yucca plant by ingesting the cellular contents from the leaves, damaging the leaves and potentially killing the plant. Some home remedies for preventing or eliminating spider mites from invading yucca plants include strategically using water, a dish soap solution, isopropyl alcohol and a hot pepper solution.
Strategic Use of Water
Spider mites thrive in dusty environments. To prevent an outbreak, regularly apply water to dusty areas such as walkways or paths. Hosing vines and trees to remove dust in the middle of the season will help to prevent a severe spider mite outbreak later in the growing season. To reduce the amount of spider mites on yucca plants, forcefully spray the yucca with water, paying close attention to the underside of the yucca's leaves.
- Spider mites thrive in dusty environments.
- Hosing vines and trees to remove dust in the middle of the season will help to prevent a severe spider mite outbreak later in the growing season.
Dish Soap Solution
A dish soap solution controls spider mites by dissolving the outer layer of the mite's body. The spider mite will then dehydrate and die. Combine 1 tablespoon of dish soap with half-gallon of water. Place the dish soap solution into a spray bottle and apply to the yucca plant by misting the leaves, concentrating on the underside of the leaves. When applying the initial treatment, apply to only a few yucca leaves and wait two or three days to make sure that the solution does not damage the plant.
- A dish soap solution controls spider mites by dissolving the outer layer of the mite's body.
Isopropyl Alcohol Solution
Isopropyl alcohol is widely available in pharmacies and grocery stores and is useful in controlling spider mites on yucca plants. The solution dissolves the spider mite's waxy outer layer. As a result, the mites will dehydrate and die. To apply isopropyl alcohol to the yucca plant, soak a cotton ball with alcohol and wipe onto the leaves, particularly the underside. Begin by treating a few leaves and wait several days to make sure the alcohol solution does not damage the plant.
- Isopropyl alcohol is widely available in pharmacies and grocery stores and is useful in controlling spider mites on yucca plants.
- To apply isopropyl alcohol to the yucca plant, soak a cotton ball with alcohol and wipe onto the leaves, particularly the underside.
Hot Pepper Solution
Prepare a hot pepper solution to apply to the yucca plant. This will control spider mites since they are repelled by the capsaicin in hot peppers. Find the hottest peppers available--the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Add the peppers to a blender with two cups of water. Blend well and carefully pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the hot pepper solution on the yucca plant's leaves, paying careful attention to the underside where spider mites like to colonise. When applying the initial treatment, apply the solution to a few leaves and wait two to three days to make sure the solution does not injure the leaves. Be careful not to come into contact with the solution, it may irritate the skin. You may want to wear goggles and latex gloves for this.
- Prepare a hot pepper solution to apply to the yucca plant.
- Spray the hot pepper solution on the yucca plant's leaves, paying careful attention to the underside where spider mites like to colonise.