Spider Webs all over Sempervivum!

Hello!

I have an outdoor pot with lovely Sempervivum (Cranberry Crush?) plants filling it and thriving really well, seemingly growing and changing every day.

The problem is, that there's always cobwebs and spiders webs on it, as well as the things next to it out there, which I'd rather were not there.

Googling it, everything says it must have spider-mites but I've scrutinised it very carefully and can see no mites or holes or any evidence of mites at all, and also some of the problem is full-size proper spider's webs from that plant to things next to it, so not the work of mites.

I have some spray to repel spiders, which is just essential oils of peppermint, lavender and citronella, mixed with water, but I'm not sure if this will be harmful to the Sempervivum, so am reluctant to spray that on there.

Can anyone advise what I can do to prevent spiders making their webs all over this plant and its neighbours, please, which will not harm the plant or the spiders?

Thanks, Matt

 

I don't think there's anything you can do to stop a spider making a web, but you could try moving the plants to a different location.
Other than that you could do what I do sometimes and take a stick and go around the plants collecting the webs on it, and then dispose of them.

 

You could try spraying with a forceful jet of water from a hose.

But they will probably come back.

 

Hi,

You have probably read about the Webs created by Red Spider Mite but you really need a strong magnifier to actually see them.

Generally Red Spider Mite affect indoor plants where its dry, hot and little air circulation, if your Semps are outside, where they should be this time of year, they are far less likely to be a problem, giving them a regular light mist with water should help remove them if you do have any.

If they are normal spiders web you could just flick the webs off with a soft brush like the make-up ones.
Of course the spiders are going on the semps because they know its a good place to catch bugs, so in a way they are doing you good service.

 

Thanks for your replies! Yes, looks like I'll just be 'de-webbing' the semps every now and then, which isn't the end of the world, is it.

 

As a wildlife-friendly gardener I just see things like this as an opportunity to enjoy another species of life and often end up finding the insects, arachnids etc far more interesting than the plant as they are so varied and fascinating in their behaviours!

Nick

 

Yes, there is that angle to it - As I say, I don't want to harm or kill any spiders, I'd just quite like to discourage them from making their webs on and around that plant, if poss....

 

Some of my plants in a perspex shelter often look as if I've draped a net curtain over them, and although it is not harmful it is unsightly, so I take a stick and twirl it through the webs to remove them. There are plenty of other places the spiders can make webs but I want to see my plants properly.
The webs have usually been reconstructed by the next day

 

I'd be interested to know why the spiders decided that's a good place for their webs.

In general, spiders hunt and eat anything smaller than themselves so perhaps the pot has some form of small insects they are interested in. Fruit flies?

If the problem persists, you could just stick a neat label into the pot claiming these are a rare cultivar of Sempervivum Arachnoideum

 

I don't know! But they seem to like it, and make webs within the structures of the plant, and also larger webs from the plant to other objects next to it, like a small ornamental bear, another small pot (containing cuttings of the same semp plant), and a little solar table lamp.

I have scrutinised the plant exhaustively and can see no sign of any other insects or fruit flies or anything, so not sure why the spiders like it so much......