Spider mites
Fine webbing in the leaf joints and a dull, stippled, dusty look are the unmistakable signs of spider mites — the pest English Ivy attracts most.
Diagnosis
Spider mites
What's happening
Spider mites are tiny sap-sucking arachnids that thrive in the warm, dry indoor air ivy is so often kept in. They cluster on the leaf undersides, piercing cells and draining them, which leaves the surface speckled with pale dots and gives the whole plant a faded, dusty cast. As the infestation grows they spin fine webbing between leaves and stems, and they spread fast to nearby plants.
How to fix it
Isolate the plant immediately so the mites don't spread. Rinse it hard in the shower or sink, aiming at the leaf undersides to knock off as many mites and webs as you can. Then spray thoroughly with neem oil, coating the undersides, and repeat every 5–7 days for three to four cycles to catch newly hatched mites. Raise the humidity afterward, since mites hate damp air — that alone makes ivy far less prone to re-infestation.
What fixes it
- Neem oil for pests — Neem oil smothers spider mites and their eggs; coat the leaf undersides and repeat weekly until the webbing is gone.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full English Ivy care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this