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Calathea

Why does my Calathea have spider mites?

Spider mites love the dry air that Calatheas often struggle in. If you see fine webbing or tiny yellow dots on the leaves, you likely have an infestation. Check the undersides of the leaves immediately.

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pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Inspect the undersides of the leaves with a flashlight.
  2. Look for fine webbing between the leaf stems.
  3. Wipe the leaves with a damp paper towel to check for tiny red or brown specks.

Likely causes

  1. Dry Air

    Most likely

    How to tell: Fine, dusty webbing appears between the stems or on the undersides of leaves. You may see tiny moving specks.

    What to do: Increase humidity immediately and wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap once a week for 3 weeks.

  2. Poor Air Circulation

    Possible

    How to tell: The plant looks dull and the leaves show stippling or small yellow spots.

    What to do: Move the plant to a spot with gentle air movement. Avoid placing it in stagnant corners.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your calathea

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.

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When to worry

If you see heavy webbing covering the entire plant, it is a serious infestation. Isolate the plant immediately to protect your other houseplants.

Stopping it coming back

Mist your plants occasionally and keep the leaves clean by wiping them with a damp cloth every few weeks.

Calathea: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calathea 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.

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Questions people ask

Can I use dish soap to kill them?
A very mild solution of water and a drop of dish soap can help, but insecticidal soap is safer for the plant. Always test a small area first.
Do I need to throw the plant away?
Usually no, unless the infestation is extremely advanced. With consistent treatment, most Calatheas recover well.

More problems with Calathea

Back to the Calathea 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.