Pest identification
What's eating my cuban cigar calathea?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine bronze or yellow stippling across the large leaf surface; webbing in dry air
Control: Increase humidity significantly; hose down leaves regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap
Scale insects
Signs: Tan or brown shell-like bumps on stems and leaf midribs; yellowing leaves
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush; treat with horticultural oil or neem oil; repeat after 10–14 days
Caterpillars (outdoor)
Signs: Irregular holes and ragged notching in the large leaves
Control: Pick off by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; check the undersides of leaves for eggs
Keep cuban cigar calathea pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Cuban Cigar Calathea pests — FAQ
What is eating my cuban cigar calathea?
Cuban Cigar Calathea is a large tropical grown outdoors in warm climates or as an indoor statement plant. Spider mites are the chief threat in dry interiors. Outdoors in tropical or subtropical settings, caterpillars and grasshoppers may notch or shred the large paddle-like leaves. Scale insects can colonise the substantial stems.
How do I get rid of spider mites on cuban cigar calathea?
Fine bronze or yellow stippling across the large leaf surface; webbing in dry air Increase humidity significantly; hose down leaves regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap
How do I get rid of scale insects on cuban cigar calathea?
Tan or brown shell-like bumps on stems and leaf midribs; yellowing leaves Scrape off with a soft brush; treat with horticultural oil or neem oil; repeat after 10–14 days
How do I get rid of caterpillars (outdoor) on cuban cigar calathea?
Irregular holes and ragged notching in the large leaves Pick off by hand; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; check the undersides of leaves for eggs