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Urgent
Pest

Fine webbing and stippled leaves (spider mites)

Tiny pale specks on leaves, fine spider-like webbing on new growth, and dust-sized mites on leaf undersides.

Commonly affects: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Strawberries, Basil

What you'll see

  • Pale yellow speckling all over the leaves
  • Fine webbing on new growth and between leaves
  • Tiny moving specks (red, yellow, or clear) on leaf undersides
  • Leaves go bronze and dry, plant declines fast

Likely causes

  • Hot, dry conditions (>27 °C, humidity <40%) — they thrive in this
  • Brought in on new plants
  • Poor airflow and dusty leaves

How to fix it (step by step)

  1. 1Raise humidity to 60%+ and drop temperature — mites hate humid conditions
  2. 2Spray leaves (especially undersides) thoroughly with water every 2 days for 2 weeks
  3. 3Use a crop-appropriate registered treatment only according to its label and harvest interval
  4. 4For severe cases, release predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)
  5. 5Bag and remove the worst-affected leaves and plants

Stop it happening again

  • Quarantine all new plants for 1 week
  • Keep humidity in the 50–65% range
  • Wipe leaves clean monthly

Need a second opinion?

Share dated photos, root observations, water readings and your mixing record so our team can assess the problem. Visual symptoms alone do not confirm a diagnosis.

Confirm the cause before treating the crop

Collect observations that distinguish possible causes

Record the first appearance of symptoms, the affected plants and whether old or new tissue is involved. Inspect roots, delivery and visible pests. Compare a healthy plant nearby. Record pH, EC, temperature and recent changes. Several causes may act together; the symptom title is a starting point, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Verify calibration and the complete mixing record. Product links explain nutrient roles; they are not instructions to use one bottle alone. Record your correction and assess subsequent growth because damaged leaves and fruit may not recover.

Escalate safely

Rapid wilting, collapse or spreading root symptoms need prompt checks of flow, oxygen and hygiene. Protect unaffected plants where practical and seek qualified diagnosis. Treatments must be registered for their intended crop and use and applied according to label, including harvest intervals.

When asking for help, provide dated root and leaf photos, water readings and mixing records. Do not combine nutrient changes with disinfectants or pesticides without compatibility advice. An online guide cannot confirm a pathogen or prescribe a universal chemical treatment.

Further reading

These sources support general cultivation guidance, not verified Nana Organics product performance. Current NaO instructions take precedence over another brand’s feeding schedule.