What's eating my caladium florida elise?

Caladium 'Florida Elise' produces bright pink and white leaves that show pest damage quickly. Thrips are the main indoor threat, scarring the decorative leaf panels. Spider mites attack in low humidity. As a summer outdoor plant, aphids and caterpillars may also feed on the thin leaves. Check new emerging leaves every week for early signs.

Silver-bronze surface scarring and frass deposits on the pink and white leaf areas; new leaves may emerge curled or streaked. Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap on a weekly schedule for 4 weeks. Remove heavily damaged leaves and use sticky traps to monitor flight.

Fine pale stippling on leaf surfaces and webbing on undersides, worse during dry indoor winters; leaves lose colour and crinkle. Increase humidity, shower the plant, and apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until clear.

Clusters on young leaves and petioles when grown outdoors in summer; leaves pucker and sticky honeydew builds up. Blast off with a jet of water and apply insecticidal soap spray. Bring plants indoors before autumn to reduce exposure.

Cottony white deposits at stem bases and petiole junctions; affected areas yellow and plant growth stalls. Dab colonies with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab and follow up with neem oil spray every 10 days.