Pests (mites, mealybugs): causes & fixes

Seeing pests (mites, mealybugs) on your houseplant? It is one of the most common indoor-plant complaints. Here is what usually causes it and how to put it right.

🪴Plants prone to this

♥

Swiss Cheese Plant

Monstera deliciosa

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Areca Palm

Dypsis lutescens

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

English Ivy

Hedera helix

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea elegans

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Kentia Palm

Howea forsteriana

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Grape Ivy

Cissus rhombifolia

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Zebra Alocasia

Alocasia zebrina

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

African Mask Plant

Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Dragon Scale Alocasia

Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Silver Dragon Alocasia

Alocasia baginda 'Silver Dragon'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Black Velvet Alocasia

Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Giant Taro

Alocasia macrorrhizos

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Taro (Elephant Ear)

Colocasia esculenta

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Mirror Plant (Red Secret)

Alocasia cuprea

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Alocasia Stingray

Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Stingray'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Green Velvet Alocasia

Alocasia micholitziana 'Frydek'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Kris Plant

Alocasia sanderiana

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

🪴

Jewel Alocasia (Melo)

Alocasia melo

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

🪴

New Guinea Shield

Alocasia wentii

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Alocasia Pink Dragon

Alocasia 'Pink Dragon'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Purple Sword

Alocasia lauterbachiana

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

🪴

Black Magic Alocasia

Alocasia infernalis 'Black Magic'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Velvet Cardboard Anthurium

Anthurium clarinervium

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

King Anthurium

Anthurium veitchii

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Red Bristle Philodendron

Philodendron squamiferum

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Ecuador Philodendron

Philodendron verrucosum

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Satin Pothos

Scindapsus pictus

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Moonlight Scindapsus

Scindapsus treubii 'Moonlight'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Mini Monstera

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Dragon Tail Plant

Rhaphidophora decursiva

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Cebu Blue Pothos

Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Marble Queen Pothos

Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Neon Pothos

Epipremnum aureum 'Neon'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Manjula Pothos

Epipremnum aureum 'Manjula'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

N'Joy Pothos

Epipremnum aureum 'N'Joy'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Swiss Cheese Vine

Monstera adansonii

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Silver Monstera

Monstera siltepecana

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Monstera Peru

Monstera karstenianum

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Shingle Plant

Monstera dubia

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Pink Syngonium

Syngonium podophyllum 'Neon Robusta'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

White Butterfly Arrowhead

Syngonium podophyllum 'White Butterfly'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Bronze Arrowhead

Syngonium podophyllum 'Maria'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Sweetheart Hoya

Hoya kerrii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Silver Pink Vine

Hoya pubicalyx

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Hoya linearis

Hoya linearis

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Hoya obovata

Hoya obovata

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Fung Wax Flower

Hoya curtisii

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Krimson Queen Hoya

Hoya carnosa 'Krimson Queen'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Hindu Rope Plant

Hoya carnosa 'Compacta'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Miniature Wax Plant

Hoya lanceolata subsp. bella

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Wax Vine

Hoya wayetii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Grass-leaved Hoya

Hoya retusa

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

String of Nickels

Dischidia nummularia

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

String of Turtles

Peperomia prostrata

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

String of Hearts

Ceropegia woodii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

String of Bananas

Curio radicans

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Common Waxflower

Hoya australis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Calathea Medallion

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Medallion'

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Rattlesnake Plant

Goeppertia insignis

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Zebra Plant

Goeppertia zebrina

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Peacock Plant

Goeppertia makoyana

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Pinstripe Calathea

Goeppertia ornata

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Network Calathea

Goeppertia kegeljanii 'Network'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Calathea Freddie

Goeppertia concinna 'Freddie'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Red Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Green Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Lemon Lime Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Stromanthe Triostar

Stromanthe thalia 'Triostar'

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Fishbone Prayer Plant

Ctenanthe burle-marxii

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Never-Never Plant

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana 'Tricolor'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Polka Dot Begonia

Begonia maculata 'Wightii'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Iron Cross Begonia

Begonia masoniana

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Escargot Begonia

Begonia rex 'Escargot'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Angel Wing Begonia

Begonia coccinea

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Fireworks Rex Begonia

Begonia rex 'Fireworks'

Toxic to pets Fussy

♥

Cleopatra Begonia

Begonia 'Cleopatra'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Tamaya Cane Begonia

Begonia 'Tamaya'

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Beefsteak Begonia

Begonia × erythrophylla

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Rabbit's Foot Fern

Davallia fejeensis

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Majesty Palm

Ravenea rivularis

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Chinese Fan Palm

Livistona chinensis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Bamboo Palm

Chamaedorea seifrizii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Sago Palm

Cycas revoluta

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Cardboard Palm

Zamia furfuracea

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Fishtail Palm

Caryota mitis

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

European Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Pygmy Date Palm

Phoenix roebelenii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Spineless Yucca

Yucca gigantea

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Cat Palm

Chamaedorea cataractarum

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Black Prince Echeveria

Echeveria 'Black Prince'

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Lipstick Echeveria

Echeveria agavoides

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Burro's Tail

Sedum morganianum

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

String of Buttons

Crassula perforata

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Gollum Jade

Crassula ovata 'Gollum'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Ghost Plant

Graptopetalum paraguayense

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Lavender Pebbles

Graptopetalum amethystinum

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Black Rose Aeonium

Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop'

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

String of Dolphins

Curio × peregrinus

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Blue Chalk Sticks

Curio repens

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Living Stones

Lithops aucampiae

Pet-safe Fussy

♥

Ox Tongue

Gasteria bicolor

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Panda Plant

Kalanchoe tomentosa

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Elephant Bush

Portulacaria afra

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Hen and Chicks

Sempervivum tectorum

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Jelly Bean Plant

Sedum rubrotinctum

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Bunny Ears Cactus

Opuntia microdasys

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Golden Barrel Cactus

Echinocactus grusonii

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Moon Cactus

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Old Lady Cactus

Mammillaria hahniana

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Fairy Castle Cactus

Acanthocereus tetragonus

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Bishop's Cap Cactus

Astrophytum myriostigma

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Star Cactus

Astrophytum asterias

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Rat Tail Cactus

Aporocactus flagelliformis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Fishbone Cactus

Epiphyllum anguliger

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Peanut Cactus

Echinopsis chamaecereus

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Pincushion Cactus

Mammillaria crinita

Pet-safe Easy

♥

San Pedro Cactus

Echinopsis pachanoi

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Peruvian Apple Cactus

Cereus repandus

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Dancing Lady Orchid

Oncidium sphacelatum

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Corsage Orchid

Cattleya labiata

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Noble Orchid

Cymbidium goeringii

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Pansy Orchid

Miltonia spectabilis

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Spider Orchid

Brassia verrucosa

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Jewel Orchid

Ludisia discolor

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Zygopetalum Orchid

Zygopetalum maculatum

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Crucifix Orchid

Epidendrum radicans

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Tropical Pitcher Plant

Nepenthes ventricosa

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Purple Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia purpurea

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Yellow Trumpet Pitcher

Sarracenia flava

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Cape Sundew

Drosera capensis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Mexican Butterwort

Pinguicula moranensis

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Spoonleaf Sundew

Drosera spatulata

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Fragrant Water Lily

Nymphaea odorata

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Sacred Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Water Hyacinth

Pontederia crassipes

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Papyrus

Cyperus papyrus

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Taro

Colocasia esculenta

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Pickerelweed

Pontederia cordata

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Urn Plant

Aechmea fasciata

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Lemon Balm

Melissa officinalis

Pet-safe Easy

♥

Bay Laurel

Laurus nobilis

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Curry Leaf

Murraya koenigii

Toxic to pets Moderate

♥

Tradescantia Nanouk

Tradescantia 'Nanouk'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Small-leaf Spiderwort

Tradescantia fluminensis

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Moses-in-the-Cradle

Tradescantia spathacea

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Coleus

Coleus scutellarioides

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Red Aglaonema

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Dieffenbachia Camille

Dieffenbachia 'Camille'

Toxic to pets Easy

♥

Goldfish Plant

Nematanthus gregarius

Pet-safe Moderate

♥

Cape Primrose

Streptocarpus hybridus

Pet-safe Moderate

🩺Other common problems