Aloe mites: signs & treatmentsUpdated 2 years ago

Signs

• "Bubbly", jagged or bumpy growths in unexpected places
• Deformed leaves, especially old leaves
• Deformed flower stalks or blooms

Treatments

• With mild infections, cut off the obviously infected leaves or blooms
• Dispose of infected material away from compost or other plants, so as not to infect them
• For more intense infections, throw the whole plant away to protect your other plants
• Be sure to thoroughly wash and disinfect cutting utensils and/or old pots

Notes from the Nursery

Aloe mites are microscopic mites (Aceria aloinis) that love to target Aloe plants. They're typically passed around by either infested equipment/soil or by the wind. The ultimate goal of the Aloe mite is to make its way to the bloom stalk where it can be high enough to float on the wind to the nearest healthy plant.

Once they've infested a plant, they get right to work to produce deformed, cancerous growth. This growth serves as the mites' home as they continue to replicate. The growth is rarely fatal, but can quickly turn a nice looking Aloe into an ugly mess.

Aloe mites are tough to treat because, unlike many other arthropod pests, they exist inside the plant. Because of that, surface pesticides, like isopropyl alcohol, are totally useless in killing Aloe mites. Some people have luck with pesticides marketed as "systemic", which enter the plant from the roots or leaves. However, it is often more reliable to remove infested material from your growing space.

Be warned, although Aloe mites love Aloes, they can also infest other members of the Asphodelaceae like Gasteria and Haworthia.

A particularly nasty infection.