What's eating my philodendron white knight?

Philodendron 'White Knight' is a slow-growing, highly variegated collector plant where thrips pose the greatest risk — even minor feeding scars the prized white leaf sections permanently. Mealybugs favour the deep stem nodes and cataphylls. Spider mites attack in dry rooms. Regular inspections and high humidity are essential to protect this rare cultivar.

Permanent silver or brown scarring on emerging white variegated sections; black frass; distorted unfurling leaves Treat with spinosad or insecticidal soap every 7 days for 4–5 weeks; use blue sticky traps; remove severely damaged leaves promptly

White cottony clusters inside cataphylls, along stems, and at petiole bases; honeydew and slow decline Carefully remove cataphylls to expose hidden colonies; dab with alcohol swabs; apply neem oil spray; quarantine the plant

Tiny pale speckling on leaf undersides, most obvious on the green sections; fine webbing in severe cases Shower plant gently, increase humidity, and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly for 3 weeks