Will spider mites kill my plant?

If left untreated, they can weaken the plant significantly and cause leaf drop. Early detection is the key to keeping your plant healthy.

Should I quarantine my plant?

Yes, move the infested plant to a separate room immediately. This prevents the mites from crawling onto your other healthy plants.

Silver Sword Philodendron: pests, causes and fixes

Check these first

Look closely at the undersides of the leaves for tiny moving specks.
Check for fine webbing near the leaf nodes.
Wipe the leaves with a white paper towel to see if any pests come off.

Likely causes

Spider Mites
Most likely
How to tell: You see fine, dusty webbing and tiny yellow stippling on the leaves.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until the pests are gone.
Dry Air
Possible
How to tell: The plant is near a heater or in a room with very low humidity.
What to do: Increase the humidity around your plant by using a humidifier or placing it on a pebble tray. Mites thrive in dry, stagnant air.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your silver sword philodendron

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

If you see heavy webbing covering the entire plant, it is a severe infestation. Act quickly to prevent the mites from spreading to your other plants.

Stopping it coming back

Regularly wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them clean and discourage mites from settling in.

Silver Sword Philodendron: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your silver sword philodendron and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Will spider mites kill my plant?: If left untreated, they can weaken the plant significantly and cause leaf drop. Early detection is the key to keeping your plant healthy.
Should I quarantine my plant?: Yes, move the infested plant to a separate room immediately. This prevents the mites from crawling onto your other healthy plants.

Guides to these causes

Spider Mites

What are these tiny webs on my Silver Sword Philodendron?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your silver sword philodendron?