Another prayer plant dying

[Marb67]

I'm absolutely astonished at how hard these plants are. It has been thriving for a year of so in our front room on the shelf but of late the leaves have become mottled and shriveling. On closer inspection they had clusters of tiny white spiders and white web. Sprayed them off with the hose and sprayed with soapy neem oil. It started to pick up but again it's back to how it was with infestations.

How on earth have they come back, and even more strange is how did they get here in the first place ?

[Jungle Jane]

Spider mite comes in on our clothing,skin etc,wash hands after going outside to not accidentally spread them. It is hard to get rid of them. I would dunk the plant upside down in soapy water for about a minute or two,see the results after,keep away from other plants,check all the indoor plants just incase there’s any more.
Edit- It looks a bit delicate to turn upside down tho,maybe keep spraying instead if delicate….

[Star goose]

I assume it sits on or above stone slabs in a greenhouse? The air around the prayer plant is too dry for it's liking I'm afraid. Succulents will love a dry environment but not this plant.

Besides, spider mites love lack of airflow and high temperature. A greenhouse in summer sounds like a great place for the mites.

It's really hard to erradicate spider mites completely without your persistence. I never used neem oil but some people on the internet claim it works. So, why don't you carry on drenching the entire plant with neem (underside the leaves, too) at least twice a week for a month?

This is how I would do: remove heavily infested leaves. Spray every bits of the plant with the neem spray. While wet, put the whole plant + plant pot in a transparent plastic bag and tie the top with a rubber band. This is to increase the humidity that mites hate. It's summer and you don't want to cook the plant inside - place the bagged up plant somewhere shaded, away from a direct sun. Keep it in the bag all the time. Repeat the treatment twice a week.

I'm curious to see if neem actually works on mites. Hope it works wonders for you.

[Marb67]

Hi, no it's in the house on my book shelf. I have jetted it with water and will do again today. I may also take a cutting that is mite free for insurance.

[Star goose]

I have a feeling eggs are harder to remove even with jetting water. Then, these that didn't get washed away hatch and start the cycle again...Sorry if I sound pessimistic but I also lost a couple of plants for mites in the past, and I'm clearly traumatised :-(

[Marb67]

I'll just keep jetting it until they are gone. The house (as its old) gets quite humid in Winter so hopefully they won't thrive.

[Marb67]

Well after a few weeks of it looking healthy again I can see more webbing appearing. This can't be right as I really did wash all the top soil away. No egs should have survived!!!

[Marb67]

And even worse it has spread to other plants in the house. Gutted

[Snoop Puss]

Sympathy like there, Marb. Hope it doesn't get too much of a foothold on your other plants. What will you do? Dispose of the original source plant?

[Marb67]

Aaaaaaaand another small one that has been fine for a year or so suddenly dies for absolutely no reason. These plants are impossible to grow as this one is nothing to do with spidermite 😔

[Peanut]

Sorry you've lost your prayer plant Marb, if it makes you feel any better, I could never keep one alive. I have had a few over the years but each one gave up and died.
They're blinking difficult plants if you ask me!

[Marb67]

Sorry you've lost your prayer plant Marb, if it makes you feel any better, I could never keep one alive. I have had a few over the years but each one gave up and died.
They're blinking difficult plants if you ask me!

I just get so upset to lose any plant it hurts.

[Andraste]

These are tricky little blighters to keep happy - they are very much a 'goldilocks' type of plant.

They like bright light but will cope in partial shade - but they don't like direct light & will scorch quite easily.

They don't like changes in temperature or drafts (so take care on windowsills, close to radiators, next to frequently opened/closed doors/windows)

They also like a bit of humidity (so again take care near a heat source/rad where it's likely to be dry air) but don't like to be overwatered and don't really care for tap water (especially if it's hard water in your area).

If you can rule in/out any of the above then that might help. x

[Peanut]

I just get so upset to lose any plant it hurts.

I understand how upsetting it is to lose a plant that you have cared for and nurtured Marb, only for it to turn on its roots and die on you. But that's the cycle isn't it, and that's why it's so special when we see a plant thriving under our love and attention.

Andraste makes very good points about how fussy they are.

I stick to spider plants and aspidistras now, they never die (famous last words!)