What's eating my compact dumb cane?

Compact Dumb Cane's dense, bushy form makes it easy for spider mites and mealybugs to establish unnoticed in the interior of the plant. Rotate the pot at each watering and part the leaves to inspect inner stems. Spider mites are the most common and damaging indoor pest.

Stippled, faded upper leaf surfaces; webbing in leaf axils and inner stems; plant appears dusty or washed out Part the foliage and rinse inner stems with water; raise humidity; treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 7 days

Cottony fluff hidden deep in the compact canopy at stem joints; honeydew and sooty mold on lower leaves Use an alcohol swab on each visible mealybug; apply neem oil spray forcing it into the dense centre; repeat weekly for 3–4 weeks

Small flies around soil; root larvae weaken the plant in moist soil, causing wilting that can mimic overwatering Allow the top layer of soil to dry out; use yellow sticky traps; apply a Bti soil drench to eliminate larvae