Pest identification
What's eating my anthurium andraeanum 'tropical'?
Spider mites
Signs: Stippled, dull leaves; webbing on undersides and between leaf and spathe; spathes may develop pale patches or early browning
Control: Shower the plant, raise humidity above 60%, and spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 cycles
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at stem nodes, leaf bases, and root crowns; sticky honeydew and sooty mould accumulate
Control: Remove with alcohol swabs; follow up with a thorough neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 10 days
Scale insects
Signs: Flat or dome-shaped brown bumps on stalks and stems; foliage yellows and flowering declines
Control: Scrape off scales, then apply horticultural oil; repeat after 2 weeks and monitor monthly
Keep anthurium andraeanum 'tropical' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats anthurium — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common anthurium andraeanum 'tropical' problems & fixes
- Anthurium andraeanum 'Tropical' watering schedule
- Anthurium andraeanum 'Tropical' light requirements
- Full anthurium andraeanum 'tropical' care guide
Anthurium andraeanum 'Tropical' pests — FAQ
What is eating my anthurium andraeanum 'tropical'?
Anthurium andraeanum 'Tropical' is a vibrant indoor flowering anthurium prone to spider mites in dry conditions and mealybugs in overcrowded collections. Its colourful spathes can mask early damage, so check undersides of leaves and the base of flower stems regularly for webbing or white deposits.
How do I get rid of spider mites on anthurium andraeanum 'tropical'?
Stippled, dull leaves; webbing on undersides and between leaf and spathe; spathes may develop pale patches or early browning Shower the plant, raise humidity above 60%, and spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 cycles
How do I get rid of mealybugs on anthurium andraeanum 'tropical'?
White cottony clusters at stem nodes, leaf bases, and root crowns; sticky honeydew and sooty mould accumulate Remove with alcohol swabs; follow up with a thorough neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 10 days
How do I get rid of scale insects on anthurium andraeanum 'tropical'?
Flat or dome-shaped brown bumps on stalks and stems; foliage yellows and flowering declines Scrape off scales, then apply horticultural oil; repeat after 2 weeks and monitor monthly