Spider mites
Fine webbing where leaves meet stems, plus a dull, speckled look, means spider mites.
Diagnosis
Spider mites
What's happening
Spider mites are tiny sap-feeders that thrive in warm, dry indoor air. They pierce the leaf cells and drain them, leaving a fine yellow stippling that makes the foliage look dusty and faded, and in heavier infestations they spin delicate webbing across leaf joints and undersides.
How to fix it
Isolate the plant and rinse it off in the shower or sink to knock down the population. Then spray every surface — especially leaf undersides where mites hide — with insecticidal soap, and repeat every 5–7 days for two to three weeks to catch newly hatched mites. Wiping the glossy leaves regularly and raising the humidity makes the plant far less inviting to them.
What fixes it
- Insecticidal soap — Insecticidal soap kills spider mites on contact; reapply every 5–7 days to break the cycle.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Rubber Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this