How to Get Rid of Spider Mites on Roses
Spider mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Knock them off with a strong spray of water to the undersides of leaves, repeated every few days, and keep plants well watered. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil helps in bad cases.
Spider mites are tiny sap-suckers that stipple rose leaves with fine yellow speckles and, in bad infestations, spin faint webbing on the undersides. They explode in hot, dry, dusty weather — often on stressed plants near walls or paths.
Because mites hate moisture, the first and best control is a forceful spray of water aimed at the undersides of the leaves, repeated every couple of days to break their fast breeding cycle. Keep plants well watered and mulched to reduce stress, and avoid broad insecticides, which kill the predatory mites that help control them. For severe cases, insecticidal soap or horticultural oil is effective.