Spider mites

Ultra-fine webbing between leaves/petioles, sandy stippling on thin leaves, bronzing under bright light. Shake over white paper — moving dots confirm.

Mealybugs

Cottony masses in leaf axils and along roots; sweet honeydew leads to sooty mold. Dab with 70% alcohol on a cotton swab — they dissolve and detach.

Scale insects

Hard, shell-like bumps on stems or leaf midribs; produce honeydew. Try a gentle scrape or alcohol swab; live scale detach with pressure.

Natural first steps

  • Isolate the plant and wipe infested areas.
  • Rinse foliage, improve airflow, and reduce leaf wetness overnight.
  • Repeat gentle treatments weekly for 3–4 weeks to catch hatch cycles.