Pest identification
What's eating my fingers anthurium?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits lodged between leaf lobes and at petiole bases; honeydew; slowed growth
Control: Swab each lobe junction with isopropyl alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap; repeat every 7 days; isolate the plant
Spider mites
Signs: Pale yellow stippling on lobed leaf surfaces; webbing in the crevices between lobes; leaves lose colour
Control: Maintain humidity above 55%; rinse the plant thoroughly; apply neem oil spray weekly for 3–4 weeks
Thrips
Signs: Silver streaks and scarring on new emerging fronds; distorted lobes; black frass specks on leaf surface
Control: Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap every 5 days; use blue sticky traps; remove and bag heavily damaged leaves
Keep fingers anthurium pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Fingers Anthurium pests — FAQ
What is eating my fingers anthurium?
Anthurium pedatoradiatum's deeply lobed, finger-like leaves create sheltered microclimates where spider mites and mealybugs thrive. Thrips can scar emerging fronds. Scale occasionally appears on mature petioles. This species' complexity of leaf shape makes thorough inspection important — use a magnifying glass to check between lobes and on undersides.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on fingers anthurium?
White cottony deposits lodged between leaf lobes and at petiole bases; honeydew; slowed growth Swab each lobe junction with isopropyl alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap; repeat every 7 days; isolate the plant
How do I get rid of spider mites on fingers anthurium?
Pale yellow stippling on lobed leaf surfaces; webbing in the crevices between lobes; leaves lose colour Maintain humidity above 55%; rinse the plant thoroughly; apply neem oil spray weekly for 3–4 weeks
How do I get rid of thrips on fingers anthurium?
Silver streaks and scarring on new emerging fronds; distorted lobes; black frass specks on leaf surface Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap every 5 days; use blue sticky traps; remove and bag heavily damaged leaves