Pest identification
What's eating my calla lily?
Slug and snail
Signs: Large ragged holes in developing leaves and spathes, especially in spring; slime trails visible on soil and foliage.
Control: Apply wildlife-safe iron phosphate slug pellets around plants; remove hiding places (debris, dense mulch); go out at night to hand-collect.
Aphid
Signs: Soft colonies on flower stalks and spathe undersides; honeydew makes foliage sticky; ants may be seen farming them.
Control: Spray with a strong water jet; follow with insecticidal soap; introduce or attract ladybirds and hoverflies.
Spider mite
Signs: Fine pale stippling on the large arrow-shaped leaves in hot, dry weather; subtle webbing on undersides.
Control: Keep plants well-watered and mulched; spray undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
Fungus gnat
Signs: Larvae in persistently wet soil damage fine roots; adult gnats hover around the soil surface; plants may wilt.
Control: Reduce watering frequency; apply Bti nematode or Steinernema feltiae drench; yellow sticky traps for adults.
Keep calla lily pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Calla Lily pests — FAQ
What is eating my calla lily?
Calla lily (Zantedeschia) grown outdoors faces slugs and snails shredding young leaves, aphids on flower spathe stalks, and spider mites in dry summers. Outdoors near ponds, bullfrogs and deer occasionally browse the foliage. Indoors, fungus gnats in wet soil and mealybugs on rhizomes are the main issues.
How do I get rid of slug and snail on calla lily?
Large ragged holes in developing leaves and spathes, especially in spring; slime trails visible on soil and foliage. Apply wildlife-safe iron phosphate slug pellets around plants; remove hiding places (debris, dense mulch); go out at night to hand-collect.
How do I get rid of aphid on calla lily?
Soft colonies on flower stalks and spathe undersides; honeydew makes foliage sticky; ants may be seen farming them. Spray with a strong water jet; follow with insecticidal soap; introduce or attract ladybirds and hoverflies.
How do I get rid of spider mite on calla lily?
Fine pale stippling on the large arrow-shaped leaves in hot, dry weather; subtle webbing on undersides. Keep plants well-watered and mulched; spray undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of fungus gnat on calla lily?
Larvae in persistently wet soil damage fine roots; adult gnats hover around the soil surface; plants may wilt. Reduce watering frequency; apply Bti nematode or Steinernema feltiae drench; yellow sticky traps for adults.