What should I do if I have gnats/spider mites in my houseplants?

Spider mites are common on house plants in our warm dry homes but are easily controlled with diluted rubbing alcohol or dish soup sprayed on the infected plant. Pyrethrin is an organic insecticide that will kill most insects on houseplants. The most efficient way is to treat the soil where the eggs are.

A product sold at Gertens called “Mosquito Bits” can also be used to treat fungus gnats by sprinkling it onto the soil.