Red spider mite, whitefly, aphids and more
What goes wrong with okra, what it looks like, and what the sources say to do.
Jump to: Under glass | Red spider mite | Whitefly | Aphids | Powdery mildew | In warm-climate gardens
Our pictures are simple drawings to show the idea, not identification photos. For a firm diagnosis, use the pages linked from each fact. We don’t recommend chemicals.
Under glass
Under glass, the RHS says look out for red spider mites and whitefly and act at the first sign; biological controls are available. RHS: How to grow okra To deter them, open greenhouse doors and vents to move the air, and raise the humidity by damping down (pouring water on) the floor. RHS: How to grow okra
The RHS lists aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and powdery mildews as common okra problems. RHS: How to grow okra
Glasshouse red spider mite
Glasshouse red spider mite is a sap-sucking mite. Look for fine pale mottling on the top of leaves, with many tiny yellowish-green mites underneath. RHS: Glasshouse red spider mite Despite the name, red spider mites are usually yellowish-green with two dark patches; in autumn they may turn reddish-orange. RHS: Glasshouse red spider mite
Red spider mite thrives in warm, dry conditions and is usually a problem from March to October. Plants in hot, dry, overcrowded greenhouses suffer most. RHS: Glasshouse red spider mite In heavy attacks you may see fine silk webbing, and leaves can lose most of their green colour and dry up or fall. RHS: Glasshouse red spider mite
Glasshouse whitefly
Glasshouse whitefly are small white-winged insects, 1.5mm long, that fly up in clouds when a plant is disturbed. RHS: Glasshouse whitefly Glasshouse whitefly thrives in warm conditions, so it is not usually a problem outdoors, but it is active all year round in greenhouses. RHS: Glasshouse whitefly
If the flat, scale-like young whitefly under the leaves are black, they have probably been parasitised by an Encarsia wasp. RHS: Glasshouse whitefly
Aphids (and ants)
Aphids are sap-sucking true bugs, 1 to 7mm long. Some are known as greenfly or blackfly; others are yellow, pink, white or mottled. RHS: Aphids Ants climb plants with aphid colonies and tend the aphids, getting their sticky honeydew as a reward. RHS: Aphids
Clemson: aphids feed on okra sap and can attract ants, which farm them for their honeydew. Limiting nitrogen can help. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina)
The RHS says tolerate aphids where possible: they are a vital food for a wide range of garden wildlife. RHS: Aphids
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildews are a group of related fungi that cause a white, dusty coating on leaves, stems and flowers. RHS: How to grow okra
In warm-climate gardens
Stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs make pods twisted and distorted. Corn earworms are often found feeding on the pods. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina) Small bumps sometimes appear on pods. The cause is unknown, and they are often confused with stink bug damage. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina)
Root-decay diseases that kill young seedlings are the most serious okra disease problems, and are more common in cold, wet soil. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina) Small pods rotting after the flowers drop is a common problem. Full sun, good air movement and proper spacing help; the exact cause is not known. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina)
Root-knot nematodes (microscopic worms) can be a serious problem. Pull up stunted, yellow or poorly cropping plants to look for galls on the roots; crop rotation and removing infected plants help. Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center: Okra (HGIC 1313; written for South Carolina)
UGA: beetles (flea, Japanese, blister and cucumber beetles) and corn earworm are generally the most common insects on okra; the more serious diseases include root-knot nematode, Southern stem blight and wilt. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Home Garden Okra (Circular 941) UGA: blossom blight can be serious during long spells of rain. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Home Garden Okra (Circular 941)
Texas A&M AgriLife: diseases on okra are most severe in cloudy, damp weather. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Growing okra
Prickly plants
Okra plants are covered in short hairs that may irritate bare skin, so wear gloves and long sleeves when touching and picking them. RHS: How to grow okra Kew notes that irritating hairs are sometimes present on okra leaves and stems. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Plants of the World Online, Abelmoschus esculentus, species profile (Internet Archive copy of 4 June 2026)
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