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Check these first
- Examine the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing.
- Check if you have been misting the leaves or getting them wet while watering.
- Look for small moving dots on the leaf surface.
Likely causes
Spider Mites
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see tiny yellow or white stippling on the leaves and fine webbing between stems. These pests thrive in dry air.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days until the infestation is gone.
Fungal Leaf Spot
PossibleHow to tell: Small brown or black spots appear on the leaves, often with a yellow halo. This happens when water stays on the leaves for too long.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves to prevent the fungus from spreading. Avoid misting the leaves and ensure there is good airflow around the plant.
Find out what's wrong with your split leaf philodendron
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
Small, isolated spots are usually manageable. Worry if the spots are spreading rapidly or covering most of the leaf surface.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the leaves clean and dry, and ensure the plant has good air circulation.
Keep your split leaf philodendron healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Can I wash the leaves to get rid of spots?
- Washing helps remove dust and some pests, but it will not cure a fungal infection. Use a fungicide if the spots are fungal.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- Yes, pests and fungal spores can easily spread. Isolate the affected plant until it is fully recovered.
More problems with Split leaf philodendron
- Why are my split leaf philodendron's leaves turning yellow?
- How do I fix root rot on my split leaf philodendron?
- Why does my split leaf philodendron have pests?
- Why are my split leaf philodendron tips turning brown?
- Why is my split leaf philodendron looking so leggy?
- Why is my split leaf philodendron drooping?
- Why is my Philodendron bipinnatifidum dropping leaves?
- Why are my Philodendron bipinnatifidum leaves curling?
Back to the Split leaf philodendron 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.