I work in the floral department of a box store and we had a big infestation of spider mites. I threw away like 12 plants today that were infested (attached photo is the worst one, a gardenia.) should I be worried about them hitchhiking on my clothes and stuff? Like low-key I kinda wanna strip and shower as soon as I get home cause I do notttt want spider mites.
by Hungry_Fail8807
7 Comments
It would take less time to strip and shower like you were bringing the plague home than it would to deal with a spider mite infestation should you end up with one.
Strip at the door and run for the shower doing a Braveheart scream the whole way if you gotta.
It’s absolutely a possibility. I work on outdoor nature reserves and always leave a change of clothes out so I can jump in the shower as soon as I get home.
I fucking hate spider mites so much. I found them in a tiny stngonium mouse ears starter plant, only have 4 frickin leaves ffs, and the plant is literally not strong enough to withstand spraying it with soap. So I’ll probably have to give up on this lil guy. I wipe it’s leaves every day but the lil guy can’t take this much messery
It isn’t impossible, but fwiw I worked in a greenhouse with plants that had mealies, spidermites, scale, whiteflies, the works. I never did anything special to decontaminate and nothing ever spread to my plants at home. I never experienced pests on my personal plants until years after I dropped working there.
Keeping your work clothes away from your plants would be smart, though.
Yes you should.
Quit. Jk, but maybe not
My MIL got spider mites on a few of her plants and I made sure not to touch them to minimize the risk of bringing them home. I even made a joke, like, “lol watch them ride us back.” I knew they COULD transfer on clothes, but I figured the chances of any mites getting on me or my partner and riding us all the way home without getting knocked or blown off, etc, was low. Guess who got spider mites. (Hint: it’s me)