What's eating my philodendron 'dean mcdowell'?

Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' is primarily threatened by common indoor sap-suckers. Mealybugs are the most frequent problem, hiding in leaf axils and along stems. Spider mites, scale insects, and thrips can also move in, especially in dry indoor air. Inspect leaf undersides regularly and treat early with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

White cottony clusters in leaf axils and along petioles; sticky honeydew residue; stunted new growth Dab individual colonies with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray weekly for 3 weeks

Fine stippling on leaf surfaces; faint webbing on undersides; leaves turn pale or bronze in heavy infestations Raise humidity, rinse leaves with water, then apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days until clear

Brown or tan waxy bumps on stems and midribs; yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew leading to sooty mold Scrape off visible scale with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil or 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs; repeat monthly

Silver-streaked or distorted new leaves; tiny dark frass specks on leaf surfaces; buds may fail to open Remove heavily infested leaves; apply spinosad-based or neem oil spray weekly; sticky yellow traps help monitor populations