What's eating my heartleaf philodendron?

Heartleaf philodendron is a robust houseplant but mealybugs are its most frequent indoor pest, hiding at the heart-shaped leaf bases and along the trailing stems. Spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats (in overwatered soil) round out the main threats. Letting the soil dry between waterings reduces fungus gnat pressure significantly.

Cottony white deposits at leaf axils, nodes, and along stems; honeydew, yellowing, and early leaf drop Swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray the entire plant with diluted neem oil weekly for 3–4 weeks

Dusty pale stippling across the dark-green leaves; fine webbing in leaf axils in low-humidity rooms Shower plant with lukewarm water, increase humidity, and treat with insecticidal soap every 5–7 days

Tiny flies around soil; larvae eat fine roots causing wilting despite moist soil Allow top 2 inches of soil to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps and drench soil with Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti)

Clusters of soft insects on tender new leaves; distorted emerging growth; sticky residue Blast off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap every 3–4 days until colony clears