Growli

Pest identification

What's eating my monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)?

Spider mites

Signs: Tiny yellow or bronze stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing in joints; leaves shrivel and lose colour

Control: Wipe down leaves; raise humidity; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to all surfaces every 5–7 days

Thrips

Signs: Silver or bronze streaks and distorted patches on leaves; black frass dots on undersides; new leaves deformed

Control: Isolate plant immediately; remove heavily damaged leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap weekly for 4–6 weeks

Mealybugs

Signs: White cottony deposits in leaf axils and at stem nodes; sticky surface residue; new growth stunted

Control: Swab with isopropyl alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap; trace climbing stems carefully as mealybugs hide in crevices

Keep monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) pest-free

Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) pests — FAQ

What is eating my monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)?

Monstera adansonii's thin, fenestrated leaves are targeted mainly by spider mites and thrips indoors. Mealybugs shelter in leaf axils and along climbing stems, while scale can appear on older growth. Vining habit means pests spread quickly through the plant — inspect both sides of every leaf at each watering.

How do I get rid of spider mites on monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)?

Tiny yellow or bronze stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing in joints; leaves shrivel and lose colour Wipe down leaves; raise humidity; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to all surfaces every 5–7 days

How do I get rid of thrips on monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)?

Silver or bronze streaks and distorted patches on leaves; black frass dots on undersides; new leaves deformed Isolate plant immediately; remove heavily damaged leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap weekly for 4–6 weeks

How do I get rid of mealybugs on monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)?

White cottony deposits in leaf axils and at stem nodes; sticky surface residue; new growth stunted Swab with isopropyl alcohol; spray with insecticidal soap; trace climbing stems carefully as mealybugs hide in crevices