What's eating my dieffenbachia sterling?

Dieffenbachia 'Sterling' is an indoor cane plant vulnerable to mealybugs hidden along its thick stems and leaf bases, and to spider mites when air is too dry. Aphids can cluster on new growth flushes. The pale silver-green foliage makes pest discolouration easy to notice early, so inspect at every watering for best results.

Fluffy white wax clusters at stem nodes and in leaf sheaths; sticky honeydew coating lower leaves. Treat with isopropyl alcohol swabs, then follow with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray programme repeated weekly for 3–4 rounds.

Tiny pale dots and subtle webbing on leaf undersides; the silver foliage looks increasingly dull and mottled. Rinse plant in a shower, raise local humidity, and spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every 5–7 days.

Soft green or brown insects clustered on new leaves and growing tips; leaves curl and growth distorts. Knock off with a strong water spray, then apply insecticidal soap. Neem oil spray is effective for follow-up treatments.