Home Remedies for Spiders on Yucca Plants

Soapy Water

• Wash the Yucca's leaves with soapy water using a solution of ½ teaspoon of detergent or dish soap to a quart of lukewarm water. Spray outdoor plants with a hose before thoroughly wiping down leaves with soapy water (spraying does not remove mite or spider eggs). Dip small plants in the soapy water. Rinse the plant thoroughly. The soap solution can clog the pores on the leaves of the plant causing it to die.

Remove Culprit

• Remove the infected leaf or plant from the others by wrapping the infected part in a plastic bag and throwing it into a receptacle.

Pick and Shake

• If the infestation proves extremely light, vigorously shake the plant above a piece of paper and handpick the mites off each leaf. Be careful not to infect surrounding plants. Then, carefully deposit the paper and the mites into a garbage can.

Pruning

• Yucca plants are hardy creatures and can withstand extensive pruning even cutting the plant down practically to the soil. Although restoring the foliage will take time, the Yucca will eventually return to its former self.

Oils

• Plant oil extractions also aid in mite removal and prevention.

  Combine and add to a spray bottle: 10 drops of heavily scented oils such as mint ; 1/8 teaspoon liquid soap; and one quart water. Spray the plant and let the mixture stay on the plant for one hour. Wash the residue from the plant (using clear, clean water) to prevent leaf burning.

Rubbing Alcohol

• Gardeners wipe plant leaves with 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water for minor problems and up to 1 part rubbing alcohol to 1 part water for larger infestations. Rinse or spray the leaves with clean water.

Sugar

• For outdoor plants, use a simple solution of sugar water (5 ounces of sugar to 1 quart of water) on the leaves to attract ladybugs which will eat the mites. This spray does not need to be washed off the leaves.

Herb Tea Spray

• Herb tea sprays, especially basil tea, provides a mite remedy as well as a preventive measure. In a gallon of water mix fresh basil cuttings (or 2 tablespoons of dried basil) and 2 teaspoons of liquid soap. Place the container in the sun and brew for at least a week. Drain off basil and put the remaining tea into a spray bottle and spray Yucca leaves regularly.

Other Sprays

• To a quart of water, add 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of ground clove and 2 tablespoons of ground Italian seasoning. Heat to simmer, remove from stove and add 2 tablespoons of crushed fresh garlic when the liquid cools to lukewarm. Allow mixture to sit until cool. Strain mixture through cheesecloth or coffee filter, add 2 to 4 drops of dish washing liquid and spray the underside of leaves. Spray the plant every three days. Mites will be gone in about 2 weeks.

  Also, a quart of water with a tsp. each of garlic, cinnamon clove oil, lemon juice, and anti-bacterial dish soap will rid a plant of mites and spiders.

  Either pour one cup of hot water, ¼ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 drops of antibacterial dish soap, and ¼ teaspoon of Epsom salts into a clean 2 liter bottle; add water up to 48 ounces, shake the mixture and mist the infected plant at night or during a time when the plant is not exposed to light; wait 20 minutes and spray heavily with clean water to remove the mites and eggs or add 1/2cup of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 drops of antibacterial dish soap to 40 ounces of clean water, mix and spray.