What's eating my philodendron selloum (tree philodendron)?

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is a large tropical grown indoors or in warm-climate gardens. Indoors, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale are the chief threats. In warm outdoor gardens, aphids, caterpillars, and slugs can attack the broad, deeply lobed leaves. The large leaf surface area makes infestations quick to establish and easy to spot.

Pale stippling and fine webbing on the undersides of the large lobed leaves; leaf surfaces lose color and look dusty. Spray all leaf surfaces (especially undersides) with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase humidity; repeat every 5–7 days for at least 3 rounds.

White cottony masses at leaf axils, petiole bases, and along the central rib; honeydew drips and sooty mold may develop. Dab with alcohol swabs; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; for large plants, a systemic drench may be needed if infestations are extensive.

Hard brown or tan bumps attached to stems and petioles; gradual yellowing of leaves; sticky secretions. Scrape off manually; treat with horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks as immature crawlers hatch and are more vulnerable to contact sprays.

Clusters of soft-bodied insects on new growth and stem tips; distorted unfurling leaves; sticky honeydew and black sooty mold. Knock off with a strong water jet; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; in gardens, encourage natural predators like ladybirds and lacewings.