Pest identification
What's eating my calathea 'maui queen'?
Spider mites
Signs: Yellow-bronze stippling across patterned leaf surface; webbing under leaves in dry air
Control: Use a humidity tray; shower the plant; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
Thrips
Signs: Silver-brown streaks and scars on upper leaf; tiny dark frass; distorted unfurling leaves
Control: Remove affected leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; repeat weekly
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony fluff at stem and petiole junctions; honeydew and slow plant decline
Control: Dab with alcohol-soaked swab; spray whole plant with neem oil; check again after 10 days
Fungus gnats
Signs: Root chewing by larvae causes wilting; adult gnats hover above wet soil
Control: Let surface compost dry; use sticky yellow traps; drench with Bti solution
Keep calathea 'maui queen' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Calathea 'Maui Queen' pests — FAQ
What is eating my calathea 'maui queen'?
Calathea 'Maui Queen' suffers most from spider mites in heated, low-humidity interiors. Thrips leave distinctive silver scarring on the handsome patterned leaves. Mealybugs cluster at petiole bases, and fungus gnats are common when soil stays too wet. Keep humidity above 55% and inspect weekly.
How do I get rid of spider mites on calathea 'maui queen'?
Yellow-bronze stippling across patterned leaf surface; webbing under leaves in dry air Use a humidity tray; shower the plant; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of thrips on calathea 'maui queen'?
Silver-brown streaks and scars on upper leaf; tiny dark frass; distorted unfurling leaves Remove affected leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps; repeat weekly
How do I get rid of mealybugs on calathea 'maui queen'?
Cottony fluff at stem and petiole junctions; honeydew and slow plant decline Dab with alcohol-soaked swab; spray whole plant with neem oil; check again after 10 days
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on calathea 'maui queen'?
Root chewing by larvae causes wilting; adult gnats hover above wet soil Let surface compost dry; use sticky yellow traps; drench with Bti solution