Rhododendron alabamense Fine Webbing - Causes & Fixes

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Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)

These tiny arachnids pierce the cell walls of Alabama Azalea leaves to suck out nutrients, leaving behind fine silk webbing and stippling. They thrive in the hot, dry conditions that often affect Rhododendron species during summer.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Gently tap a leaf over a white piece of paper to see if tiny crawling dots fall off.

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1 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the plant to eliminate existing spider mites, eggs, and larvae.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

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2 Increase humidity around the plant and avoid hot, dry air, as spider mites thrive in arid conditions.

Flora Premium Plant Mister

Spray Bottles

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3 Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to physically remove webbing and dislodge any remaining mites.

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Southern Yellowhouse Spider Mite

Similar to the two-spotted variety, these mites create fine webs on the undersides of leaves, causing the azalea foliage to look dull and bronze.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves specifically for small, yellowish spots or clusters of eggs.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide or insecticide spray to the undersides of the leaves to eliminate the spider mites and their webs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Prune and dispose of heavily infested or dead foliage to prevent the mites from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

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3 Increase humidity around the plant, as spider mites thrive in dry conditions; consider using a fine mist spray.

Flora Premium Plant Mister

Spray Bottles

$12

In Stock

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Ascochyta Blight (Early Stage)

While typically characterized by lesions, extreme moisture and high humidity can lead to fungal growth that may appear as fine, fuzzy mycelium resembling webbing.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the 'webbing' is actually accompanied by dark, sunken necrotic spots on the leaf tissue.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply a fungicide to control the early fungal growth and prevent the spread of blight lesions.