Spiders are not a problem. Spider mites are a problem. Two different things. I doubt you would be able to spot a spider mite as anything other than a speck on a piece of paper, even with your reading glasses.

o.k. If my plant has spiders not spider mites how do I get rid of them?

Don't get rid of them!

The spiders will help with any mites that do appear!

I have several spiders patrolling my house plants.

Josh

Spiders are considered beneficial insects...even if they give most folks the creeps. As long as they haven't layed
eggs, the fact that you removed them from the plant probably took care of the problem. Just keep an eye out for babies and a spray of dishsoap or 1/2 and 1/2 mix of alcohol and water would take care of those. I wouldn't take the plant back.

I don't know if spiders are a major predator of spider mites but they do eat other pests. Mostly, spider mites are eaten by other mites, some of which are available as biological controls. They are also attacked by fungi, its a nasty old world at the microscopic level. The fungi thrive in more humid conditions and often the easiest way to control spider mites is just to keep the humidity up. Also, in North America there is a specialised little lady beetle which lives almost entirely off mites, the same way that the larger ones live off aphids. It has also been used as a biological control.

with a little over 300 epiphyllums and other related epiphytes I'm very happy to have spiders running around my plants they do help keep spider mites down as well as other little bugs just watch out they don't start laying eggs if you see eggs just remove them.I don't mind the few webs they make
Bear

thanks so much for the responses!!I thought the webbing meant spider mites.Not so, and a spray of h2o from the sink took care of the spiders.