Pest identification
What's eating my velvet calathea?
Spider mites
Signs: Tiny pale dots (stippling) on the upper leaf surface; fine silk webbing on the velvety underside of leaves.
Control: Raise humidity above 60%. Shower the plant to dislodge mites, then apply insecticidal soap or neem oil (test a small patch first). Repeat weekly for three to four weeks.
Mealybugs
Signs: White powdery wax and cottony egg sacs clustered at leaf bases and in the ruffled undersides.
Control: Remove visible mealybugs with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab. Spray the whole plant with insecticidal soap solution and reapply weekly until no new bugs appear.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adult gnats flying around soil; larvae feed on fine roots, causing wilting and slow growth in younger plants.
Control: Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults; drench soil with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) to kill larvae.
Keep velvet calathea pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Velvet Calathea pests — FAQ
What is eating my velvet calathea?
Velvet Calathea's long, wavy leaves with velvety undersides are a favourite hiding spot for spider mites and mealybugs. Low humidity is the main trigger for infestations. Regular misting, a pebble-tray humidifier nearby, and monthly inspection of the velvet undersides catch problems early before they escalate.
How do I get rid of spider mites on velvet calathea?
Tiny pale dots (stippling) on the upper leaf surface; fine silk webbing on the velvety underside of leaves. Raise humidity above 60%. Shower the plant to dislodge mites, then apply insecticidal soap or neem oil (test a small patch first). Repeat weekly for three to four weeks.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on velvet calathea?
White powdery wax and cottony egg sacs clustered at leaf bases and in the ruffled undersides. Remove visible mealybugs with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab. Spray the whole plant with insecticidal soap solution and reapply weekly until no new bugs appear.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on velvet calathea?
Adult gnats flying around soil; larvae feed on fine roots, causing wilting and slow growth in younger plants. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adults; drench soil with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) to kill larvae.