If you have begun noticing small webs weaving between the leaves of your houseplants or see that your plant is suddenly not thriving, take a closer look at it.  Spider mites, the bane of most houseplants, can completely devastate a houseplant in very short order.  Most of the time, your first sign will be the telltale webs across the leaves, but if you look closely at your plant, you will see the small mites traveling around in their haste to decimate anything green in the house.

To control spider mites once they discover your plants, you can try a few organic methods:

1. Wash the leaves of the plant, especially the undersides, in a mild detergent of ½ teaspoon per quart of lukewarm water.  Use a soft rag and carefully clean each leaf, top and bottom.  Also be sure to remove the webbing between leaves and on the soil.
2.  Prune affected leaves and be vigilant afterward to remove any new pests.  Sometimes removing the leaves with the infestation can take care of the problem, but you may need to repeat the process.

If these two organic methods fail to work, you will need to either get rid of the plant or purchase a pesticide specifically designed to eliminate spider mites.  If the plant is sentimental (I have several from my deceased mother that I would do anything to keep alive), pesticides are well worth the cost and chemicals, but chemicals should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

The best way to keep your plants safe is to be watchful of the first signs of infestation so you can quickly remove the first invaders before they take over.