Hosta sieboldiana Frances Williams Fine Webbing - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation Tetranychus urticae (European Red Spider Mite) Fall Webworm (Early Stage)

search Possible Causes

error

Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation

These microscopic arachnids thrive in the warm, dry conditions that often affect large-leafed Hostas like 'Frances Williams'. They pierce the cell contents of the leaf, causing stippling and leaving fine silken webs as they move across the foliage.

Very Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Hold a white piece of paper underneath a leaf and tap it sharply to see if tiny crawling specks fall onto the paper.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide to eliminate the spider mites and their eggs; a thorough spray of Neem Oil will help control the infestation.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Increase humidity around the plant and ensure the soil remains moist, as spider mites thrive in hot, dry environments.

Flora Premium Plant Mister

Spray Bottles

$12

In Stock

3 Monitor soil moisture levels regularly to prevent the dry conditions that trigger mite outbreaks.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter SMM-V3

Water Meters

—

warning

Tetranychus urticae (European Red Spider Mite)

A specific type of spider mite that is highly common in shade-dwelling perennials. In 'Frances Williams', heavy infestations can cause the characteristic blue-green variegation to turn yellow and eventually scorched-looking.

Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves for small, bright red or orange dots moving near the webbing.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide or insecticide spray to the plant to eliminate the spider mite population and destroy any remaining eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Increase humidity around the plant and regularly wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to physically remove webbing and discourage mite re-infestation.

3 Monitor soil moisture levels closely, as spider mites thrive in dry, stressed environments; use a moisture meter to ensure the soil remains consistently moist.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter - Blue

Water Meters

$12

In Stock

warning

Fall Webworm (Early Stage)

While more common on trees, early larval stages of certain caterpillars can create silk structures on host plants. However, this usually presents as much denser, localized tent-like webs rather than fine, distributed webbing.

Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Look for small green caterpillars hidden within the silk structures during the day.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Manually remove any visible webbing or larvae from the leaves to prevent the web from expanding and protecting the caterpillars.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to eliminate any remaining larvae and prevent further silk production.