5 Philodendron Pests: How to ID and Eradicate Them
No matter which type of philodendron you’re growing, it’s susceptible to pests. Small critters like aphids, spider mites, and thrips can suck the plant's sap and cause its decline. Join plant expert Briana Yablonski to learn how to identify and treat a handful of common philodendron pests.
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Philodendrons are some of the most popular types of houseplants, and when you look at their lush leaves and diverse forms, it’s easy to see why. If you’re caring for one of these houseplants at home, you know they provide lush foliage and rarely make a fuss. However, that doesn’t mean they’re immune to pests.
Whether you’re growing a trailing philodendron Rio or a large split leaf philodendron, keep an eye out for pests. Most of the critters that attack these houseplants are small, but they can still cause serious damage. Therefore, locating and treating them ASAP is key to keeping your houseplants healthy.
Make it a regular practice to scout your philodendron for these pests. By catching them soon after they appear, you can easily eradicate them and keep your vines healthy.
Aphids
If you see leaves crawling with tiny pear-shaped insects, you’re likely dealing with aphids. These tiny pests may seem harmless, but if you’ve dealt with them on houseplants or in your garden, you know they pose a serious threat.
Aphids quickly multiply, especially in a warm and cozy home. When the conditions are just right, a single individual can transform from a newborn to a reproducing adult in as little as a week. Pair this fast time to maturity with the aphid’s high reproduction rates and you’ll understand how a few aphids can multiply into thousands in just a few weeks.
The pests vary in appearance depending on the species, but they are all less than 1/8 of an inch long. They have six long legs and a pair of long antennae. Aphid species that attack indoor plants are often yellow or light green, but you may also see brown, orange, or gray species.
These philodendron pests pierce leaves and then drink the sap. This results in small dots on the leaves followed by serious discoloration. You may also notice a sticky secretion known as honeydew near the aphids.
Treatment
If you spot a few aphids on your houseplant, you can blast them with water or wipe them off with a wet, soapy rag. Make sure to thoroughly check for the pests in rolled leaves and other tight areas.
Another option is spraying the aphids with neem oil or insecticidal soap. This method often works well if you can’t reach all the aphids on your plant. Make sure to thoroughly coat the foliage for the most effective control.
After you treat the pests, recheck for them every few days. Remove any remaining pests until they are completely gone.
Spider Mites
Spider mites often show up in the winter when your house is warm and dry. The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is the species that attacks philodendrons and other houseplants most often, so it’s helpful to become familiar with this pest’s appearance.
The mites are teensy-tiny, maxing out at about 1/50 of an inch long! That means that leaves may appear like they’re crawling with small dots rather than identifiable pests. However, if you look at one of these mites under a magnifying glass, you’ll see eight legs and a large dark spot on both sides of its body.
Another key characteristic of spider mites is their webs. The pests create silken, spider-like webs, but their webs are often denser than spiders’ webs.
The mites feed on sap and eventually cause discolored leaves. So, if you spot silken webs and yellow foliage, look for spider mites.
Treatment
Spraying spider mites with a strong stream of water can help remove them from your plant. However, this isn’t always feasible for indoor plants. You can also spray the mites with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Increasing the humidity and/or lowering the air temperature can also help prevent and slow future infestations. Since most philodendrons like warm and humid air, raising the humidity is typically a better option than lowering the temperature.
Fungus Gnats
Fungus gnats won’t always harm your philodendron, but they sure are annoying. The small adults slowly fly through the air around your philodendron, ruining the beauty these tropical vines provide. And if you don’t treat them, the adults lay eggs that hatch into nymphs that feed on roots.
When you look closely at the adults, you’ll see they have long antennae and legs that make them resemble small mosquitoes. Although their slow flight through the air is annoying, the adults don’t pose a threat to your philodendrons.
The real danger comes from the larvae. Fungus gnats lay their eggs on moist organic matter, so a damp compost or peat moss potting mix is an ideal target. The eggs hatch into small worm-like larvae that feed on roots. While a handful of larvae won’t do much damage, large numbers can lead to weakened roots and reduced overall health.
Treatment
Since fungus gnats will only lay their eggs in moist organic material, letting the top few inches of the soil dry out in between waterings will help disrupt their life cycle. Philodendrons like their soil to dry slightly, so this isn’t a problem for the plants.
You can eliminate the adults by using yellow sticky traps. The yellow color attracts the pests, and the sticky substance traps them.
If you’re really worried about the larvae, you can treat them with beneficial nematodes, specifically Steinernema feltiae. Dissolve the nematodes in water, apply them to the soil, and keep the soil moist for two weeks. Another option is to treat the soil with the naturally occurring bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti).
Thrips
Thrips are small insects less than 1/5 of an inch long. There are many different thrips species, but they all have an elongated body and feed on sap. The adults can be black, yellow, or brown.
The pests can rapidly multiply, and large populations can cause noticeable damage. You may notice the leaves sporting a unique silvery or brown sheen where the pests have fed. Thrips can also spread diseases, so even a few of the pests can become problematic.
Treatment
Since predatory insects aren’t a feasible solution for houseplants, organic sprays are the best option for treating thrips on indoor philodendrons. Neem oil, insecticidal soap, and pyrethrin can all provide effective control. Make sure to read all product instructions before spraying your plants.
Scale
If you haven’t seen scale insects before, you may be confused about what you’re looking at. That’s because the pests have a unique protective mechanism. Female scale insects cover themselves with a rigid, protective coating that makes them look like a disease rather than an insect. The males are rarely seen.
Under their armor, these pests feed on the leaf sap of philodendrons. Eventually, the females lay eggs under their shields that hatch into mobile nymphs. These immature pests crawl out from under the adult’s shell and travel to other parts of the host. When the nymphs mature, they settle down and build their protective coating.
Scales often blend in with leaves, so they’re difficult to spot. You may not notice them until populations reach high enough numbers to cause significant damage.
Treatment
If you spot a small number of scale insects, you can pick them off with your fingers. However, be aware that they can be difficult to remove. You can also try scrubbing these philodendron pests off your plant with a soapy toothbrush.
Spraying the pests with neem oil, pyrethrin, and other organic sprays is generally ineffective due to the scales’ protective coating. Therefore, it’s best to use other treatment methods.
