What's eating my hypoestes phyllostachya 'splash select pink'?

Hypoestes phyllostachya 'Splash Select Pink' is a colourful houseplant prone to spider mites in low humidity and whitefly when grown as a tender bedding plant outdoors. Mealybugs and aphids also target its soft stems. Indoors, spider mites are the most consistent problem, especially near heating vents in winter.

Pale yellowing stipples on leaves; webbing on undersides; leaves dry out and drop prematurely Raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier; shower the plant weekly; apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil to leaf undersides every five days for three rounds

Fluffy white wax at leaf axils and stem joints; honeydew leads to sooty mould on colourful foliage Dab with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs; follow up with neem oil spray; isolate immediately

Tiny white insects rise in a cloud when disturbed; nymphs suck sap from undersides, yellowing leaves Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and catch adults; spray undersides with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; for severe greenhouse infestations introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasps

Colonies on soft shoot tips cause leaf curl and sticky honeydew deposits Blast off with water; spray with insecticidal soap; introduce ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata) for biological control