What's eating my goeppertia beauty star?

Goeppertia 'Beauty Star' is an indoor tropical in the Calathea family, vulnerable to the usual trio of spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats. Low humidity is the primary trigger for mite infestations. The striped silver-green leaves are quick to show stippling damage, making early detection straightforward with routine checks.

Tiny pale speckling across the ornamental leaf stripes; webbing visible on undersides in heavier infestations. Maintain humidity above 55%, rinse leaves in a shower, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly for 3–4 weeks.

Fluffy white deposits in leaf joints and at the base of petioles; leaves may yellow or droop. Dab alcohol on individual clusters with a cotton swab, then follow up with a neem oil or insecticidal soap spray programme.

Larvae damage roots in persistently wet soil, leading to yellowing and limp stems despite adequate watering. Let the topsoil dry out slightly between waterings; apply Bti (e.g. Gnatrol or Mosquito Bits) as a soil drench to kill larvae.