Pest identification
What's eating my maranta cristata?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale flecking on leaf surfaces, dull colour, fine webbing on undersides in dry conditions
Control: Boost humidity above 60%, shower plant weekly, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
Mealybugs
Signs: Waxy white residue inside folded leaves and at stem bases; weakened, yellowing growth
Control: Open and inspect folded leaves; dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray neem oil and repeat for 4 weeks
Scale insects
Signs: Hard or soft bumps on stems; honeydew droplets and sooty mould on lower leaves
Control: Scrape off manually, apply horticultural oil; check roots for root scale if plant remains stressed
Keep maranta cristata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Maranta Cristata pests — FAQ
What is eating my maranta cristata?
Maranta cristata, like all prayer plants, is most threatened by spider mites, which cause stippled fading of the decorative leaf markings. Mealybugs hide in the tightly folded leaves at night. Keep humidity high, wipe leaves regularly, and treat infestations quickly — the dense foliage lets pests hide effectively.
How do I get rid of spider mites on maranta cristata?
Pale flecking on leaf surfaces, dull colour, fine webbing on undersides in dry conditions Boost humidity above 60%, shower plant weekly, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of mealybugs on maranta cristata?
Waxy white residue inside folded leaves and at stem bases; weakened, yellowing growth Open and inspect folded leaves; dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray neem oil and repeat for 4 weeks
How do I get rid of scale insects on maranta cristata?
Hard or soft bumps on stems; honeydew droplets and sooty mould on lower leaves Scrape off manually, apply horticultural oil; check roots for root scale if plant remains stressed