Spider Mites, Fungus Gnats & Aralia Decline: Integrated Pest Management

Multiple simultaneous plant problems usually trace to one root cause: improper watering. This case connects spider mites on aralia, fungus gnats in soil, and a dying Ming aralia — all symptoms of cultural stress.

Spider Mite Eradication

• Trim damaged foliage (reduces population)
• Spray THOROUGHLY with 1 tsp mild soap/quart water — drench all surfaces until dripping
• Repeat weekly for 4 weeks — misses reproduce rapidly
• No pesticide needed if coverage is complete

Fungus Gnat Control

1. Remove loose surface soil not touching roots
2. Dry soil as deeply as possible
3. Top-dress with ¼ inch sharp sand — lacerates larvae
4. Adults die naturally in ~1 week

Ming Aralia Diagnosis

Near-total leaf loss = near-total root loss. Fatal. Take healthy tip cuttings for propagation instead.

Unifying Solution: Watering Mastery

All three issues stem from watering errors. Master the weight method (Article 25206). Pests exploit stressed plants; correct culture prevents infestations.