Brassica oleracea botrytis Fine Webbing - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation Tetranychus urticae (European Red Mite) Outbreak Thrips Damage with Secondary Webbing

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Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation

Spider mites are the most common cause of fine webbing on cauliflower; they pierce plant cells to feed, causing stippling and silk production to protect their colonies. In Brassica species, heavy infestations can lead to significant damage to the developing curd.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Check the undersides of leaves for tiny moving dots or fine silken webs clustered around leaf veins.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide to eliminate the spider mite population and destroy eggs, larvae, and adults.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Use yellow sticky traps to capture adult mites and monitor for any remaining flying pests.

Super Ninja Fungus Gnat Traps - 30 Pack

30 pcs

$7

In Stock

3 Prune and dispose of heavily infested leaves to prevent the mites from spreading to the developing cauliflower curd.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

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Tetranychus urticae (European Red Mite) Outbreak

Often occurring in hot, dry conditions, these mites create dense webbing that can encase the cauliflower head itself. This leads to chlorosis and potential necrosis of the developing curd.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Tap a leaf over a white piece of paper to see if tiny reddish specks fall off.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide to eliminate the spider mite population and destroy mite eggs, larvae, and adults.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Increase humidity and reduce heat around the plant by misting the foliage, as spider mites thrive in hot, dry environments.

Flora Premium Plant Mister

Spray Bottles

$12

In Stock

3 Monitor soil moisture levels to ensure the plant is not under drought stress, which can exacerbate mite outbreaks.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter - Blue

Water Meters

$12

In Stock

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Thrips Damage with Secondary Webbing

While thrips primarily cause silvering and scarring on cauliflower leaves, the physical damage can sometimes attract secondary pests or coincide with localized silk production from other micro-arthropods.

Common

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How to confirm: Look for small, irregular silvery streaks on the leaf surface alongside the webbing.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic insecticide to eliminate the thrips population and prevent further feeding on the cauliflower leaves.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Inspect the undersides of leaves for secondary pests and use yellow sticky traps to monitor and capture flying insects.

Super Ninja Fungus Gnat Traps - 30 Pack