What's eating my metallic palm?

Metallic Palm grown as a houseplant is most frequently attacked by spider mites, which love the warm dry conditions indoors. Scale insects and mealybugs also target this palm. Occasionally whitefly can appear in conservatory settings. Routine leaf wiping, humidity management, and checking the undersides of fronds are the core defenses.

Pale speckling and streaking on frond surfaces; fine webbing on undersides; fronds lose color and vitality Wipe fronds with a damp cloth; shower the plant monthly; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days; increase humidity

Hard brown or tan bumps on frond midribs and petioles; sticky honeydew leading to sooty mold Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil or neem oil spray; repeat every two weeks

White cottony clusters at frond bases and in the crown; weakened, yellowing new fronds Apply isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs; spray with insecticidal soap; isolate the plant during treatment

Tiny white-winged insects flying off fronds when disturbed; yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew residue Use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray to undersides of fronds; repeat every 5 days for three weeks