What's eating my caladium 'thai beauty'?

Caladium 'Thai Beauty', grown as an indoor houseplant, is primarily troubled by spider mites and mealybugs. The large patterned leaves are prone to mite stippling in low-humidity rooms and mealybug infestations at stem joints. Aphids can appear on tender new growth. Keeping humidity above 50% is the single best preventive measure.

Tiny pale speckles and a dull, bleached look on leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides in severe cases. Increase ambient humidity; mist leaves or use a humidifier; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly.

Fluffy white wax masses at petiole bases and leaf axils; honeydew leading to sooty mould. Isolate the plant immediately; treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow up with neem oil spray.

Soft-bodied insects on unfurling leaves; sticky leaf surfaces and distorted new growth. Rinse with tepid water; apply insecticidal soap spray. Repeat every 5–7 days until clear.