What's eating my croton?

Croton's vivid leaves are magnets for spider mites, the single most destructive indoor pest of this plant. Mealybugs and scale also appear. Low humidity — exactly what heated homes provide — dramatically worsens all three. Thrips occasionally rasp the leaf surface. Frequent misting and regular leaf-wiping are the first line of defence.

Fine pale stippling and bronzing of leaf surfaces; fine webbing along leaf midribs; severe infestations cause mass leaf drop Increase humidity significantly; shower the plant; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap on all surfaces; introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis; repeat every 5 days until clear

White cottony clusters in leaf axils, along stems, and at branch joints; honeydew leads to sooty mould Dab with isopropyl alcohol; spray diluted neem oil; isolate plant immediately; check new growth weekly

Brown, waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; leaves yellow and plant looks generally unwell Manual removal with a soft toothbrush; horticultural oil spray to smother crawlers; systemic insecticide for heavy infestations