Pest identification
What's eating my calathea orbifolia?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and dulling of the silver banding on leaves; fine webbing on undersides; leaf edges brown
Control: Mist or run a humidifier nearby; rinse foliage with lukewarm water; apply insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
Thrips
Signs: Silver streaks and distorted patches disrupt the leaf pattern; tiny black frass spots visible on undersides
Control: Isolate immediately; remove worst-affected leaves; spray spinosad or insecticidal soap weekly for 4–6 weeks
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits inside leaf sheaths and where leaves meet the stem; slow, stunted growth
Control: Swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow with neem oil drench of leaf axils; repeat every 10 days
Fungus gnats
Signs: Small flies around soil; larvae eat fine roots, causing wilting despite moist soil
Control: Apply a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) soil drench; place yellow sticky traps; do not let water sit in trays
Keep calathea orbifolia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Calathea orbifolia pests — FAQ
What is eating my calathea orbifolia?
Calathea orbifolia's large, patterned leaves make spider mite and thrips damage easy to spot — silvery streaks and stippling disrupt the distinctive silver-green banding. Mealybugs shelter in leaf sheaths, and fungus gnats breed in the consistently moist soil this plant needs. High humidity and excellent airflow are your first line of defence.
How do I get rid of spider mites on calathea orbifolia?
Pale stippling and dulling of the silver banding on leaves; fine webbing on undersides; leaf edges brown Mist or run a humidifier nearby; rinse foliage with lukewarm water; apply insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of thrips on calathea orbifolia?
Silver streaks and distorted patches disrupt the leaf pattern; tiny black frass spots visible on undersides Isolate immediately; remove worst-affected leaves; spray spinosad or insecticidal soap weekly for 4–6 weeks
How do I get rid of mealybugs on calathea orbifolia?
White cottony deposits inside leaf sheaths and where leaves meet the stem; slow, stunted growth Swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow with neem oil drench of leaf axils; repeat every 10 days
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on calathea orbifolia?
Small flies around soil; larvae eat fine roots, causing wilting despite moist soil Apply a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) soil drench; place yellow sticky traps; do not let water sit in trays