What's eating my rhaphidophora sylvicola?

Rhaphidophora sylvicola is a rare climbing aroid from Southeast Asia grown indoors by collectors. It shares the standard tropical houseplant pest profile: spider mites are the most common issue in low-humidity homes. Mealybugs hide along climbing stems, scale can develop on mature growth, and thrips may target new unfurling leaves.

Fine pale stippling and webbing on leaf undersides; leaves look dusty and lose gloss Increase humidity to 60%+; rinse foliage regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for 3 cycles

White cottony colonies at stem nodes and beneath leaves along the climbing structure Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; treat entire plant with neem oil spray weekly for 4 weeks

Flat brown or grey waxy bumps along stems; yellowing leaves and slowed climbing growth Scrape off manually; apply horticultural oil spray every 10–14 days until no new scale appears

Silver scarring and black frass on new leaves; emerging leaves distorted or streaked Spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap weekly; remove most damaged leaves; use blue sticky traps