What's eating my philodendron hederaceum 'micans'?

Philodendron hederaceum 'Micans' — with its velvety, iridescent foliage — is most commonly troubled by mealybugs and thrips indoors. Spider mites can damage the delicate leaf texture, leaving visible scarring on the velvet surface. Regular leaf inspection, good airflow, and quarterly preventive neem treatments help preserve the distinctive appearance of this popular cultivar.

White cottony deposits in leaf axils and on petioles; honeydew makes the velvety leaves look greasy and attracts sooty mould. Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with neem oil spray every 10 days for 3–4 rounds.

Silver streaks and scarring permanently damage the velvet texture; distorted new leaves with dark frass spots. Remove and discard heavily infested leaves; apply insecticidal soap or spinosad spray every 5–7 days for at least 4 weeks.

Pale stippling that scars the velvety iridescent surface; fine webbing on undersides in dry, warm conditions. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth and raise humidity; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days.