What's eating my ctenanthe 'amagris'?

Ctenanthe 'Amagris' is a compact indoor tropical most troubled by spider mites, which find its thin, patterned leaves easy to colonise when humidity falls. Mealybugs and fungus gnats round out the key threats. Its fish-bone silver leaf markings make pale mite damage harder to spot — inspect closely.

Pale, washed-out speckling across the silver-patterned leaf surface; webbing under leaves; tips brown in severe infestations. Raise humidity above 55%. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove mites physically, then apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 5–7 days for 3 cycles.

Cottony white residue at leaf axils and along the midrib; honeydew and sooty mould if left untreated. Dab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Follow with diluted neem oil spray covering all crevices and undersides weekly until gone.

Root feeding by larvae in wet compost causes wilting and poor growth; adults are visible near the soil surface. Allow the top inch of compost to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps for adults; apply Bti drench to the compost for larvae.