Spider mites
Fine webbing in the leaf joints plus a dusty, stippled look is the signature of spider mites — and Tradescantia is one of their favorite targets.
Diagnosis
Spider mites
What's happening
Spider mites are nearly microscopic sap-suckers that thrive in warm, dry indoor air. They cluster on the undersides of Zebrina's leaves and pierce the cells to feed, leaving a fine pale speckling (stippling) across the surface. As they multiply they spin delicate webbing between leaves and stems, and badly infested foliage yellows, dries, and drops.
How to fix it
Isolate the plant immediately so the mites don't spread. Rinse it under a strong stream of water, tipping it to blast the undersides of the leaves, then spray thoroughly with neem oil — top and bottom of every leaf and into the stem joints. Repeat every 5–7 days for at least three rounds to catch newly hatched mites, since they breed fast. Raising the humidity around the plant afterward makes the air far less hospitable to them.
What fixes it
- Neem oil for pests — Neem oil smothers spider mites and their eggs; repeat every 5–7 days until the webbing and stippling are gone.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Zebrina Wandering Dude care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this