Pest identification
What's eating my rose-painted calathea?
Spider mites
Signs: Yellow or white stippling on upper leaves; bronze discolouration and fine webbing on undersides in serious infestations.
Control: Wipe both sides of each leaf with a damp cloth. Treat with insecticidal soap spray weekly. Raise humidity to 60–70% to make conditions unfavourable for mites.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony masses at leaf axils and where the leaf meets the stem; sticky honeydew on nearby surfaces.
Control: Use alcohol-tipped cotton swabs on each colony. Spray all plant surfaces with insecticidal soap or a neem-oil solution (test a leaf first) and repeat weekly until resolved.
Scale insects
Signs: Small hard brown bumps on stems and leaf undersides; yellowing leaves and weakened, slow-growing plant.
Control: Scrape off scales manually, then treat with isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth. Follow with insecticidal soap to catch any remaining crawlers.
Keep rose-painted calathea pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rose-Painted Calathea pests — FAQ
What is eating my rose-painted calathea?
Rose-Painted Calathea's broad, decorative leaves collect dust and harbour spider mites in dry indoor air. Mealybugs are a recurring problem in the leaf sheaths. Humidity trays, regular leaf-wiping with a damp cloth, and early treatment with insecticidal soap are the best defences for this popular prayer plant.
How do I get rid of spider mites on rose-painted calathea?
Yellow or white stippling on upper leaves; bronze discolouration and fine webbing on undersides in serious infestations. Wipe both sides of each leaf with a damp cloth. Treat with insecticidal soap spray weekly. Raise humidity to 60–70% to make conditions unfavourable for mites.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on rose-painted calathea?
White cottony masses at leaf axils and where the leaf meets the stem; sticky honeydew on nearby surfaces. Use alcohol-tipped cotton swabs on each colony. Spray all plant surfaces with insecticidal soap or a neem-oil solution (test a leaf first) and repeat weekly until resolved.
How do I get rid of scale insects on rose-painted calathea?
Small hard brown bumps on stems and leaf undersides; yellowing leaves and weakened, slow-growing plant. Scrape off scales manually, then treat with isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth. Follow with insecticidal soap to catch any remaining crawlers.