Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Look closely at the underside of the leaves for tiny moving specks.
- Check for fine, silky webbing near the leaf joints.
- Feel the air around the plant to see if it is very dry.
Likely causes
Spider Mites
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see fine webbing between leaves and tiny yellow dots on the foliage.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap once a week for 3 weeks.
Low Humidity
PossibleHow to tell: The edges of the leaves look dry and the plant seems stressed.
What to do: Increase humidity by placing the plant on a pebble tray filled with water. You can also mist the leaves daily to keep the air around the plant moist.
Find out what's wrong with your lesser galangal
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If you see heavy webbing covering the entire plant, it is a severe infestation that needs immediate treatment.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the leaves clean by wiping them regularly and maintain higher humidity levels in your home.
Lesser Galangal: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lesser galangal and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Do I need to isolate my plant?
- Yes, move the affected plant away from your other houseplants to prevent the mites from spreading.
- Will misting help?
- Misting helps increase humidity, which makes the environment less hospitable for spider mites.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Lesser Galangal
- Why is my Lesser Galangal showing signs of root rot?
- Why are my Lesser Galangal's leaves getting brown tips?
- Why are my Lesser Galangal leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal not flowering?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal drooping?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal losing its leaves?
- Why does my Lesser Galangal have spots on its leaves?
- Why is my Lesser Galangal growing so leggy?
- Why are my Lesser Galangal leaves curling?
Back to the Lesser Galangal guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.