Natural Methods

• 1). Inspect any recently purchased plants for spider mites before introducing them into your flower bed. Small white or yellow spots on the leaves are an indication of spider mite infestation.
  
  
• 2). Determine that you have a mite infestation by holding a sheet of white paper under a leaf or branch and tapping the plant sharply. If slow-moving, dark-colored specks appear on the paper, then spider mites are present.
  
  
• 3). Introduce predatory mites, such as those in the family Phytoseiidae, into the spider mites' environment. Predatory mites do not harm plants and will feed on spider mites. You can order these mites online or by mail-order. Be careful to obtain predatory mites that labeled for your particular climate.
  
  

Chemical Methods

• 1). Select a mite-specific pesticide (commonly referred to as "miticide") that is labeled as plant-safe. Avoid miticides labeled "for mite suppression" because they do not effectively eliminate all mites.
  
  
• 2). Spray the miticide on all of the affected plants, thoroughly saturating the undersides of plant leaves. Try to spray miticide on as many mites as possible during this process.
  
  
• 3). Repeat the application of miticide after five to 10 days. Continue at this rate until you have eliminated all of the mites.