Pest identification
What's eating my artillery plant?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling across the tiny leaves; delicate webbing between stems; foliage looks dull and bronzed when population is high
Control: Raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier; rinse the plant under a gentle shower; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days until clear
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adult gnats fly near the soil; larvae damage fine feeder roots, leading to slow growth and wilting
Control: Allow the top layer of soil to dry before re-watering; use yellow sticky traps; treat the soil with Bti-based biological drench
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy tufts at stem nodes and leaf axils; leaves may yellow and growth stalls
Control: Remove with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly; quarantine new plants before introducing them
Keep artillery plant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Artillery Plant pests — FAQ
What is eating my artillery plant?
Artillery Plant is an indoor tropical that most commonly attracts spider mites and fungus gnats. Its fine, moisture-retentive foliage and preference for humid conditions make it susceptible to mites in dry air and gnat larvae in consistently wet soil. Mealybugs occasionally colonise stem nodes.
How do I get rid of spider mites on artillery plant?
Pale stippling across the tiny leaves; delicate webbing between stems; foliage looks dull and bronzed when population is high Raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier; rinse the plant under a gentle shower; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days until clear
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on artillery plant?
Adult gnats fly near the soil; larvae damage fine feeder roots, leading to slow growth and wilting Allow the top layer of soil to dry before re-watering; use yellow sticky traps; treat the soil with Bti-based biological drench
How do I get rid of mealybugs on artillery plant?
White waxy tufts at stem nodes and leaf axils; leaves may yellow and growth stalls Remove with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with insecticidal soap spray; repeat weekly; quarantine new plants before introducing them