What's eating my caladium?

Caladiums are susceptible to caterpillars and aphids outdoors, and to spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats indoors. Their paper-thin decorative leaves show damage quickly. Caterpillars are the main outdoor threat, chewing irregular holes overnight. Inspect foliage regularly and act fast — these thin-leaved tropicals can be disfigured rapidly by feeding insects.

Irregular holes or ragged edges chewed in the large, thin leaves, often overnight; frass (droppings) may be visible. Hand-pick caterpillars at dusk; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for organic control; neem oil deters egg-laying adults.

Clusters of small insects on new growth and undersides of leaves; curled or distorted leaves; sticky honeydew. Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap spray; repeat every 3–5 days until populations collapse.

Fine stippling and bronzing across leaf surfaces; faint webbing on undersides; leaves may shrivel in severe cases. Increase humidity; spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly for 3–4 weeks.

Larvae chew fine roots, causing wilting and poor growth; adults are a nuisance flying around soil. Let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply BTi (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench to soil.