Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Cardamom · Elettaria cardamomum

Why does my cardamom have tiny spots and webs?

Spider mites are the most common pest for cardamom plants kept indoors. They thrive in dry air and quickly suck the sap from your leaves.

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

Check these first

  1. Look closely at the undersides of the leaves.
  2. Check for fine webbing near the leaf joints.
  3. Wipe the leaves to see if spots disappear.

Likely causes

  1. Spider Mites

    Most likely

    How to tell: You will see tiny white or yellow stippling on the leaves and fine webbing between stems.

    What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Follow up by spraying the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5 to 7 days.

When to worry

If you see heavy webbing and the leaves are turning yellow or dropping, the infestation is severe. Act immediately to save the plant.

Stopping it coming back

Increase humidity around the plant and wipe the leaves down regularly to discourage mites.

Not sure which one it is? Photograph your cardamom.

This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Will these pests spread to my other plants?
Yes, spider mites travel easily between plants. Isolate your cardamom until the infestation is completely gone.
Can I just wash the plant in the shower?
A gentle shower is a great first step to knock off many mites. Make sure to cover the soil so it does not get waterlogged.

More problems with Cardamom

Back to the Cardamom guide

This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.