Rhododendron satsuki Fine Webbing - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation Broad Mites Fall Webworm

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Two-Spotted Spider Mite Infestation

Spider mites thrive in the warm, dry conditions that Satsuki Azaleas often experience during summer. They pierce the leaf cells to suck out contents, leaving behind fine silken webs and stippled white spots on the foliage.

Very Common

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

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic miticide or insecticide spray to the foliage to eliminate the spider mite population and destroy 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 avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as spider mites thrive in hot, arid environments.

PlanKKers Iridescent Glass Globes Medium 2Pcs

Glass

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

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

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Broad Mites

Unlike spider mites, broad mites are microscopic and primarily attack the new growth of Azaleas. While they don't produce large webs, their feeding can cause distorted, stunted leaves that may appear covered in a fine, dusty residue or silk.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the very tips of new growth for puckering, curling, or thickened leaf margins.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic insecticide/miticide spray to the new growth to eliminate the microscopic broad mites.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Prune and dispose of any heavily distorted or stunted new growth to reduce the mite population and prevent further spread.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

3 Monitor the plant's new leaves closely for any signs of returning silk or leaf distortion.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter - Teal

Water Meters

$12

In Stock

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Fall Webworm

In certain climates, Fall Webworms can create dense, silken webs that envelop entire branches of Rhododendron species. These webs protect the larvae as they consume the leaf tissue, leaving behind skeletal remains.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the webbing is much larger and more structural than fine individual strands, covering multiple leaves at once.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Manually remove the silken webs and any visible larvae from the branches to prevent further defoliation.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the affected areas to eliminate any remaining larvae and prevent a new infestation.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Monitor the plant closely for new webbing and treat promptly with a biological control if the caterpillars reappear.