Summer is a glorious yet challenging time in the indoor garden, as our houseplants enjoy a growth spurt while battling pests that can quickly destroy them. One of the most common to find in August are spider mites, which form fine webs over plants, feed on their leaves, and significantly weaken them.

The reason so many of us have the challenge of getting rid of spider mites on houseplants this month is because these sap-sucking insects thrive in summer conditions. Dry air and dehydrated plants are what spider mites seek and they multiply quickly in this environment. The problem is spider mites can be easy to miss because they're tiny.

That's why it's so important to monitor your plants for any signs of mites, keep them hydrated, and clean their leaves regularly through summer. Even using this plant mister from Amazon daily can help keep plant leaves clean pest-free. Here, I explain more about why these little red insects are taking over your houseplants in August and what to do about them.

Spider mites are one of the most common houseplant pests to spot in August for one reason: they love the summer heat.

With humidity low and temperatures high, spider mites thrive in our homes during the summer months. It's when their natural predators are less active and plants are more susceptible to heat-stress, which these mites target to feed on.

This means underwatered houseplants next to open sunny windows are most at risk of attracting spider mites in summer (I always use a soil moisture meter, like this from Amazon, to monitor my plants' soil and water correctly).

The warmer conditions also result in fast reproduction, so spider mite populations an multiply fast and spread to more plants in your houseplant collection.

If you don't catch a spider mite infestation quickly, it can result in leaf drop, discoloration, and stunted growth, as plants become significantly weak from the damage.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to deter and get rid of them.

How to Get Rid of Them

To avoid spider mites on houseplants in August, I always do a few things to make my indoor garden less appealing to them.

This includes moving houseplants away from scorching sunny windows, especially the windows I have constantly open in summer as this offers a direct access point for pests.

This will also help prevent leaf scorch on your most sensitive houseplants. Alternatively, you can use these sheer curtains from Wayfair to diffuse the sunlight and protect foliage from damage.

I also clean my houseplant leaves weekly during summer. You can use these houseplant dusting gloves from Amazon to gently wipe the surface and remove any dust. This is a good opportunity to observe foliage and look out for pests, especially on the underside of leaves where they often hide.

You can also increase humidity for indoor plants to deter spider mites. As well as misting your plant, an effective solution is placing your plant on a pebble humidity tray (from Amazon) or even installing a humidifier (like this portable one from Walmart).

If you do spot any spider mites on your houseplants, it's important to isolate them from other plants to stop spreading. Cut off any heavily-infested foliage (using clean and sharp houseplant snips from Amazon) and then shower your plant to wash away the majority of the mites.

When I've dealt with these destructive insects before, I've found individually wiping each leaf is super effective. You can use water on a microfiber cloth, insecticidal soap (like this from Amazon), or even organic neem oil (like this spray from Walmart).

What to Shop

Not checking for pests is just one summer houseplant care mistake to watch out for. You should also take care to adjust watering frequency during hot spells and avoid overfertilizing your plants, which can burn roots.

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