What's eating my white princess philodendron?

White Princess Philodendron shares the indoor pest profile of erubescens cultivars. Thrips are the most damaging pest, scarring the white variegation that defines this plant's value. Mealybugs settle into stem nodes and cataphylls. Spider mites thrive if humidity drops. Preventive quarantine and regular leaf inspection are the key defences.

Bronze or silvery streaking and scarring on both white and green leaf areas; curled or deformed new growth; visible frass and tiny insects on undersides Remove affected leaves; spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days; use blue sticky traps; quarantine incoming plants for 2–3 weeks before placing near the collection

White fluffy colonies at stem nodes and inside cataphylls; plant growth stalls; honeydew attracts sooty mould Swab with isopropyl alcohol; follow with insecticidal soap spray; check inside cataphylls thoroughly; repeat every 7–10 days

Pale stippling on leaf surfaces and webbing in leaf axils; damage more visible on white variegation as yellowing spots Boost humidity above 50%; shower the plant; apply neem oil spray on a weekly schedule until the population is clear