What's eating my dracaena thalioides?

Dracaena thalioides is a sturdy, low-maintenance tropical houseplant seldom bothered by pests. Spider mites are the most frequent problem in warm, dry rooms. Mealybugs and thrips occasionally attack. Maintaining adequate humidity, avoiding dusty leaves, and not overwatering are the most effective preventive strategies.

Tiny yellow or white speckles across the leaf surface; faint webbing under leaves; foliage looks dull and washed out. Mist foliage to raise humidity; wash leaves with insecticidal soap; repeat applications every 5–7 days until clear.

Cottony white deposits at leaf axils and along the mid-rib; affected areas yellow; honeydew promotes sooty mould. Remove manually with alcohol swabs; follow with a neem oil spray covering all leaf surfaces and stem joints.

Silver-bronze streaking or scarring on leaf surfaces; minute dark frass specks visible; new leaves may be distorted. Isolate the plant; apply spinosad-based spray or neem oil; repeat every 5 days for three cycles to break the life cycle.