Pest identification
What's eating my calathea lutea (cuban cigar)?
Spider mites
Signs: Stippled, dull leaves with fine webbing on undersides; severe infestations cause leaf browning and drop.
Control: Mist foliage and boost ambient humidity. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil, paying close attention to leaf undersides; repeat every 7 days.
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan shell-like bumps on stems and midribs; leaves yellow and weaken as sap is drained.
Control: Scrape off adult scale with a soft toothbrush. Treat with horticultural oil or 70% alcohol; repeat fortnightly for 6–8 weeks.
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy tufts tucked inside unfurling leaf rolls; honeydew drip leads to sooty mould on lower leaves.
Control: Swab infested areas with alcohol-soaked cotton. Neem oil spray applied to all crevices weekly will prevent reinfestation.
Keep calathea lutea (cuban cigar) pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Calathea Lutea (Cuban Cigar) pests — FAQ
What is eating my calathea lutea (cuban cigar)?
Cuban Cigar Calathea is a large tropical grown indoors or in warm conservatories. Spider mites thrive when humidity drops, and scale insects cling to its thick stems and leaf bases. Mealybugs occasionally colonise the rolled cigar-shaped new leaves before they unfurl.
How do I get rid of spider mites on calathea lutea (cuban cigar)?
Stippled, dull leaves with fine webbing on undersides; severe infestations cause leaf browning and drop. Mist foliage and boost ambient humidity. Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil, paying close attention to leaf undersides; repeat every 7 days.
How do I get rid of scale insects on calathea lutea (cuban cigar)?
Brown or tan shell-like bumps on stems and midribs; leaves yellow and weaken as sap is drained. Scrape off adult scale with a soft toothbrush. Treat with horticultural oil or 70% alcohol; repeat fortnightly for 6–8 weeks.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on calathea lutea (cuban cigar)?
White waxy tufts tucked inside unfurling leaf rolls; honeydew drip leads to sooty mould on lower leaves. Swab infested areas with alcohol-soaked cotton. Neem oil spray applied to all crevices weekly will prevent reinfestation.