Plant care guide
Spider Mites on English Ivy: Wash, Cool and Humidify
Updated
Why does my English ivy have spider mites?
Tiny yellowish speckles on English ivy leaves, a dull or bronzed look and fine webbing between leaves and stems are spider mites. Ivy is one of the houseplants most prone to them, especially in a warm, dry room.
What to do first
Isolate the ivy and wash the foliage, undersides included, with lukewarm water every week for several weeks, pruning out the worst stems. Move it somewhere cooler and more humid. Test any soap or oil on a few stems first, because ivy can be sensitive to insecticidal soap.
If your indoor ivy looks dusty and speckled, you are not doing anything unusual wrong: ivy is simply a favourite of spider mites. Iowa State Extension says twospotted spider mites feed on nearly all houseplants, but ivy seems particularly susceptible. Clemson Extension says spider mites particularly affect English ivy kept indoors all year (HGIC 2252).
Confirm it is spider mites
Iowa State describes very tiny yellowish-green spots in light infestations. Heavy infestations turn foliage greenish-yellow, then tan or brown, and leaves often drop. Look for:
- Fine webbing on leaves and stems. Iowa State notes it on close examination.
- Moving specks on white paper. Iowa State suggests tapping leaves over paper (Iowa State: Insect Pests).
- Damage starting underneath. Colorado State Extension says early injury shows as white flecks on the leaf underside near the base of the veins (CSU: Managing Houseplant Pests). It names ivies among common hosts.
- Timing. Iowa State says dry indoor winter air and reduced plant vigour seem to favour mites.
Clemson’s ivy factsheet lists mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies and scale as other common ivy pests. Cottony tufts or sticky leaves point to those instead; see our mealybugs guide and scale guide.
Why ivy struggles indoors
Clemson says ivies do well at 10–21 °C (50–70 °F) by day, with nights about 3–6 °C (5–10 °F) cooler. It adds that cooler temperatures and high humidity help prevent common pests, though the plant grows more slowly. Colorado State says plants in very hot, dry sites are prone to spider mites. So keep ivy away from heaters and warm, dry spots.
What to do
- Isolate the ivy. Colorado State says mites crawl or are carried to nearby plants.
- Prune out the worst stems. Clemson and Iowa State both suggest cutting out heavily infested parts first. Bag the trimmings.
- Wash the foliage. Iowa State recommends a forceful spray in the shower or outdoors. Clemson suggests dunking the foliage upside down in water, holding the mix in with foil or plastic. Its general factsheet recommends lukewarm water.
- Repeat weekly. Clemson says weekly sprays for several weeks are often needed. Colorado State says washing over several weeks should reduce mites to low levels.
- Move it somewhere cooler and more humid. Colorado State lists washing and increasing humidity as the most effective controls.
Be careful with soap
Clemson’s ivy factsheet suggests adding insecticidal soap to the dunking water. But Clemson’s general pests factsheet lists ornamental ivy among plants sensitive to insecticidal soap. Try plain water first. If you use soap or a horticultural oil, test it on a few stems before treating the whole plant. Colorado State rates oils as probably the most effective spray against spider mites. UC IPM warns that some broad-spectrum insecticides often cause mite outbreaks (UC IPM Pest Note 7405).
When to start again
Iowa State says it is often easier to discard a small, heavily infested plant than to restore it. NC State lists stem cuttings among the ways ivy spreads (NC State: Hedera helix). Inspect a few clean tips under a lens, root them, and discard the rest.
Safety
The ASPCA lists English ivy as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include vomiting, abdominal pain, drooling and diarrhoea, and the foliage is more toxic than the berries. NC State and Clemson both note that the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning.
Prevent a return
- Wash the plant regularly. Clemson says periodic washing helps prevent many pest problems.
- Keep it cool and bright, away from heaters. Clemson advises bright light but not direct sun.
- Check leaf undersides weekly through winter.
Our spider mites guide covers mite biology and treatments in depth. More ivy care is on the English ivy hub.
Related guides
Other english ivy problems we cover: brown spots.
References
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC 1506: Growing English Ivy Indoors
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC 2252: Common Houseplant Insects & Related Pests
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Spider Mites on Houseplants
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Diagnosing Houseplant Problems Caused by Insect Pests
- Colorado State University Extension: Managing Houseplant Pests
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Hedera helix
- UC Statewide IPM Program: Pest Notes: Spider Mites (Publication 7405)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: English Ivy
How this guide was put together: Clemson Cooperative Extension, Iowa State University Extension, Colorado State University Extension, NC State Extension, UC Statewide IPM Program and ASPCA guidance.