What's eating my maranta 'kim'?

Maranta 'Kim' is a houseplant cultivar with purple-tinged undersides that can mask early pest damage. Spider mites are the most common attacker; mealybugs and thrips also occur. Check the distinctive purple undersides routinely — that is where mites and thrips feed and where early webbing first appears.

Pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing on the purple underside; leaves look washed out and dry. Maintain high humidity. Wipe leaves and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray on both surfaces every 5–7 days for 3 weeks minimum.

Silver streaks and tiny dark droppings on leaf surfaces; new growth may be distorted or stunted. Isolate the plant. Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap; use sticky traps to gauge population. Treat weekly for 4–5 consecutive weeks.

White cottony deposits at leaf axils; honeydew drip and weakened, yellowing foliage. Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. Apply full-plant neem oil spray weekly and inspect for re-emergence for several weeks.