Pest identification
What's eating my voodoo lily?
Slugs & snails
Signs: Holes in the spathe and emerging leaves; shredded edges on young petioles; slime trails at the base.
Control: Scatter iron-phosphate pellets around the tuber site; use grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk in wet weather.
Aphids
Signs: Sticky honeydew on flower stem and new leaf tissue; clusters visible on soft growth tips.
Control: Spray with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap; repeat every 5–7 days until populations collapse.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing on leaf undersides; pale stippling across leaf surface; leaves may yellow in severe infestations.
Control: Increase humidity; spray undersides with neem oil or miticide; avoid water stress which encourages mite outbreaks.
Keep voodoo lily pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Voodoo Lily pests — FAQ
What is eating my voodoo lily?
Voodoo lily (Sauromatum venosum) is an unusual garden aroid. Slugs and snails are its main pest, targeting the spathe and leaf as they emerge. Aphids may colonize the peduncle and new growth. In warmer gardens, spider mites can infest leaves during dry spells. Deer generally avoid it due to its odor.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on voodoo lily?
Holes in the spathe and emerging leaves; shredded edges on young petioles; slime trails at the base. Scatter iron-phosphate pellets around the tuber site; use grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk in wet weather.
How do I get rid of aphids on voodoo lily?
Sticky honeydew on flower stem and new leaf tissue; clusters visible on soft growth tips. Spray with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap; repeat every 5–7 days until populations collapse.
How do I get rid of spider mites on voodoo lily?
Fine webbing on leaf undersides; pale stippling across leaf surface; leaves may yellow in severe infestations. Increase humidity; spray undersides with neem oil or miticide; avoid water stress which encourages mite outbreaks.