Does anyone know what a web-like substance at the base of a plant could be?

Question

It almost looks like mold spores or a cobweb. I do not see any insects and the plant is not showing any signs of a parasite infestation. This is an indoor plant.

I see no mites at all and the webbing in on the stem of the plant, not the leaves.A small amount is actually on the soil itself.

The plant is showing no sign of anything feeding off from it.

Answer 1

I almost need a picture. While I agree it could be mites, there are some other thoughts: a spittle bug (looks like a slobbery St.Bernard hit your plant)http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/meadow_spittlebug.htm,

slimemold (sounds worse than it is). http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm

or some other soil fungi.

With mites you should be seeing some leaf damage.

Try blasting it away with water, that is usually enough.

Answer 2

I agree with the above posters. It is probably spider mites. They are really difficult to see but no problem seeing the web. I didn't know about a systemic that could be used with house plants but I want to look into that.
I get these mites on my indoor Ficus during the winter. I put them in the shower and blast them with room temperature water. I do that every 2 weeks for 4-6 weeks and I don't see them again till MAYBE next winter. However, my ficus are taller than I am and its almost to the point of me not being able to move them so I am going to look into the systemics. My 2 cents.

Answer 3

That sounds a bit like spider mites. They are a pain! It's a particular problem with scheffeleras ("umbrella plants"). The best thing you can do is to put a systemic insecticide in the soil of the plant. This makes the plant toxic, and kills whatever is living off of it - sort of an IV treatment for plants. You can get systemic sprays, but in my opinion, they don't work as well.

The sooner you treat, the better off your plants will be; be sure to follow the label directions, no matter what you choose.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Mites.