If your houseplants spent summer soaking up sunshine on the porch or patio, you may be preparing to bring them inside as fall nights get colder. Unfortunately, a plant isn’t always the only thing making the trip through your front door. Spider mites can hide on foliage, and they’re so tiny that you may notice damaged leaves or fine webbing before you notice the pests themselves. The University of Minnesota calls spider mites a major houseplant pest and warns that they thrive in the warm, dry conditions commonly found inside homes during winter. A careful houseplant pest inspection before your plants come inside can prevent one tiny hitchhiker from becoming a much bigger indoor headache.
