What's eating my maranta 'marisela'?

Maranta 'Marisela' is an indoor prayer plant threatened mainly by spider mites and mealybugs. Its habit of raising its leaves at night and spreading them flat in daylight can make spotting early mite infestations tricky — always check undersides carefully when the leaves are open in good light.

Tiny pale spots and bronzed, dulled leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides in established infestations. Raise humidity above 50% and avoid hot, dry spots. Apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil spray every 7 days; repeat for at least 3 cycles.

White waxy tufts at stem joints and leaf bases; honeydew leads to sticky leaves and sooty mould growth. Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray neem oil solution covering all plant surfaces and crevices weekly until clear.

Soft-bodied green or white insects on new growth; distorted young leaves and sticky residue. Blast off with a gentle water spray. Treat persistent infestations with insecticidal soap; introduce Aphidius wasps if numbers remain high.