What's eating my philodendron splendid?

Philodendron splendid (P. verrucosum × melanochrysum) is a velvety-leaved hybrid coveted by collectors and equally coveted by spider mites and thrips. The dense, hair-like trichomes on the leaf surface trap mites and make them hard to dislodge. Quarantine all new plants for 2–4 weeks and inspect every leaf joint on the supporting totem.

Pale bronze stippling across the velvety leaf surface; webbing in the trichomes and at petiole bases; leaves dull and drop prematurely. Rinse trichomes gently with lukewarm water; apply neem oil or miticide spray weekly for 4 weeks; keep humidity above 65%.

Silvery-grey scarring and distorted new growth; frass visible on young leaves; trichomes may trap cast skins. Remove and dispose of heavily affected leaves; treat with spinosad-based spray or neem oil every 5–7 days; use blue sticky traps to confirm eradication.

White cottony masses hidden within the trichomes and at node and petiole junctions along the climbing stem. Probe with an alcohol-soaked fine paintbrush or swab; spray whole plant with insecticidal soap on a 7–10 day cycle.