Growli

Pest identification

What's eating my anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

Spider mites

Signs: Fine pale stippling on leaves and spathes; webbing visible underneath; spathes may show streaking and lose colour vibrancy

Control: Shower the plant thoroughly, raise humidity, and spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 weeks

Mealybugs

Signs: White cottony residue at leaf bases, stem nodes, and in the junction between spathe and spadix; honeydew and sooty mould

Control: Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with cotton swabs; follow with neem oil spray every 10 days

Scale insects

Signs: Brown shell-like bumps on stems and spathe stalks; leaves turn yellow; growth slows

Control: Scrape off manually, clean with horticultural oil; isolate the plant from others immediately

Aphids

Signs: Clusters of small soft insects on new growth and flower stems; sticky honeydew and curled or distorted young leaves

Control: Blast off with water, then treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil; check every few days until clear

Keep anthurium andreanum 'sonate' pest-free

Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:

Anthurium andreanum 'Sonate' pests — FAQ

What is eating my anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

Anthurium andraeanum 'Sonate' is a popular flowering anthurium grown indoors; spider mites and mealybugs are its most common pests. Mites thrive in the dry air common around heating systems. Check the undersides of spathe and leaves and keep humidity above 60% to reduce risk.

How do I get rid of spider mites on anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

Fine pale stippling on leaves and spathes; webbing visible underneath; spathes may show streaking and lose colour vibrancy Shower the plant thoroughly, raise humidity, and spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 weeks

How do I get rid of mealybugs on anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

White cottony residue at leaf bases, stem nodes, and in the junction between spathe and spadix; honeydew and sooty mould Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with cotton swabs; follow with neem oil spray every 10 days

How do I get rid of scale insects on anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

Brown shell-like bumps on stems and spathe stalks; leaves turn yellow; growth slows Scrape off manually, clean with horticultural oil; isolate the plant from others immediately

How do I get rid of aphids on anthurium andreanum 'sonate'?

Clusters of small soft insects on new growth and flower stems; sticky honeydew and curled or distorted young leaves Blast off with water, then treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil; check every few days until clear