Spider mites most likely...a homemade (or store bought) insecticide soap can take care of them rather quickly.

Controlling Spider Mites can be somewhat difficult because about any pesticide, including insecticticidal soaps, that might contol them will also kill off the predators that could help you. Populations of Spider Mites rise as temperatures climb and humidity drops so increasing the level of humidity around affected plants can help some. Regular showering of the plant, knocks off the wee buggers off the plant, can be of some help.
Perhaps this, from the University of California - Davis, might be of some help.

Here is a link that might be useful: About Spider Mites

The underlying problem is that the bonsai is indoors.

Also need to mention that we need images of your bonsai & the "tiny spider things."

M.....what kind of plant is your bonsai? Is it planted in traditional bonsai medium? And what about the other plants?

Knowing this information will enable me to help you decide what to do. I'd hold off on the insecticidal soap until you are certain that your plants are not sensitive to it.

Kimmsr...what kinds of predators of spider mites are likely to be found on indoor plants?

The only real predators spider mites have are other mites...they usually don't find their way indoors unless conditions and life cycles are ideal.

...I guess I should edit and add that there are other predators like certain midges/flies and even ladybugs that will eat spider mites, but they're not highly effective compared to predatory mites. If it's the only or limited food source, they'll go for them.

Most people have to take care of their spider mite issues by eradicating as many of them as possible and following up by misting the plants as a precaution. Spider mites don't like reproducing in moist conditions very much.

This post was edited by nc-crn on Sat, Mar 30, 13 at 18:19

Rhizo, during the winter here we frequently find the Asian Lady Beetle crawling around in the house and often on the plants we have inside. Even in mid summer we often find them on the inside house plants. Other people living in Alabama and other southern places tell me theyt find them in their houses as well, year around.

Kimmsr, you should go around and do a bit of caulking, etc., if ladybugs are able to get in all the time. If ladybugs can get in that frequently, then you're losing a lot of heat through the cracks. I see one or two occasionally, but never do they head for the houseplants! Always for the ceiling.

miesse, we'd like to help, as you can see....but we really need to know what kind of plant we're talking about. Some house plants have been pruned a bit here and there to make them look like bonsai....is that what you are talking about? Or is it some sort of outdoor plant that has been trained....and really should be living outside?

Here is a photo of the tiny spider bugs. Unfortunately, this is the best photo I could get.

I had this plant in my office window for awhile, then moved it to my house - so I'm not sure where the bugs came from.

Haha - my girlfriend bought this plant from a guy in a van on the side of the road - I'm not entirely sure if it's a real bonsai or anything.

Any care tips for this plant would be great (it is our 'love tree!'...luckily our relationship does not rely entirely on this plant.)

Thanks so much for all of your help!

PS: I can provide a better photo of the entire plant if necessary. I didn't realize I only had one.

Looks like a juniper, probably juniper procumbens nana, since that is a commonly used plant for beginner bonsai. It is an outdoor plant, kept indoors or too dry outside, it's a favorite of spider mites. As in seeing the tittle of your post, told me what the plant and pest most likely common.

Rather than type out the whole how to fix spider mites I'm going to give you a link to a fuchsia page I happen to have open right now. Mites are mites, LOL, doesn't matter which plant, plus fuchsias are more delicate than junipers, so any thing that wont' hurt them, will definitely not hurt your juniper.

The trick is going to be finding a place outdoors where you can give it enough sunlight, and mange to keep it watered but not over watered , especially in the summer heat, when that is easily twice a day. I've been to large bonsai conventions in the summer. Late afternoon everybody leaves to go home and water, then comes back for the rest of the days seminars. ;)

Good luck with your little plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.nwfuchsiasociety.com/pests.htm

This post was edited by plaidbird on Sat, Apr 6, 13 at 17:03

Thanks so much, plaidbird!