What's eating my dieffenbachia 'compacta'?

Dieffenbachia 'Compacta' faces the same indoor pest roster as other dieffenbachias. Spider mites are the primary threat, especially in dry, centrally heated rooms. Mealybugs hide in the compact leaf axils and are easy to miss. Check under every leaf and in tight stem joints when inspecting.

Tiny pale dots and fine webbing on leaf undersides; whole leaves turn dull and yellow in heavy infestations Shower the plant to dislodge mites, then apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly for 3 weeks; keep humidity above 50%

White cottony deposits in tight leaf axils and along stem joints; leaves lose color and plant growth stalls Remove visible colonies with an alcohol-dipped cotton swab; follow with neem oil spray covering all surfaces

Clusters of small soft insects on new growth; distorted emerging leaves and sticky residue Knock off with a strong stream of water, then apply insecticidal soap; repeat every 5 days until gone