Aglaonema commutatum Pseudobracteatum White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Cottony Scale Sclerotinia (White Mold)

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects secrete a white, waxy substance that looks exactly like cotton. They congregate in the crevices of Aglaonema leaves and stem junctions to suck sap, often causing leaf yellowing.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab the white spots; if they dissolve and turn brown, it is likely mealybugs.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately from other greenery to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to your entire collection.

2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide/miticide to eliminate the insects and their waxy coatings.

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3 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove visible white cottony clusters from leaf crevices and stem junctions.

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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, scale insects produce a white filamentous covering. They attach firmly to the stems of Chinese Evergreens, feeding on plant fluids and potentially secreting honeydew that attracts sooty mold.

Common

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How to confirm: Gently scrape the white mass with a fingernail to see if a hard-bodied insect is underneath.

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1 Treat the plant with an organic insecticide spray to eliminate the scale insects and their white protective coverings.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Manually remove visible scale insects from the stems using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to prevent further feeding.

3 Wipe the leaves and stems with a soft cloth to remove any sticky honeydew residue that could lead to sooty mold growth.

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Sclerotinia (White Mold)

While less common on foliage, certain fungal pathogens can manifest as white, fuzzy mycelium on plant tissue, especially if the Aglaonema is kept in high humidity with poor air circulation.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots are accompanied by soft, rotting stem tissue or dark lesions.

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1 Remove and discard all heavily infected leaves to prevent the fungal mycelium from spreading to healthy plant tissue.

2 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected areas and surrounding foliage to control the spread of the white mold.