Aglaonema commutatum Silver Queen White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Cottony Scale Powdery Mildew

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects produce a white, waxy, cottony secretion to protect themselves and their eggs. They feed on the sap of the Silver Queen Aglaonema, which can lead to leaf yellowing and stunted growth.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the leaf axils (where leaves meet the stem) and the undersides of leaves for tiny moving white insects or sticky residue.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to your other houseplants.

2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide or neem oil to kill the insects and their eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

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3 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove visible white cottony clusters from the leaves and stems.

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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, scale insects can appear as white, fuzzy masses on the stems or leaves. They attach themselves to the plant and suck nutrients, causing localized damage to the Aglaonema's foliage.

Common

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How to confirm: Gently scrape a white spot with your fingernail; if it is a hard shell underneath the fuzz, it is likely scale.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the spread of scale insects to other greenery and wipe away visible white masses with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the entire plant, ensuring you coat the undersides of leaves and crevices where scale insects hide.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Monitor the plant regularly using a moisture meter to ensure the soil remains appropriately moist but not waterlogged, as excess moisture can encourage pest environments.

GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter SMM-V3

Water Meters

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal pathogen manifests as white, powdery patches on the leaf surfaces. It thrives in high humidity and poor air circulation around the Aglaonema foliage.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots look like flour dusted on the leaves and if they spread across the surface of the leaf blade.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Treat the affected leaves with an organic fungicide to eliminate the fungal spores.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Improve air circulation around the foliage and reduce humidity levels to prevent the fungus from spreading.

3 Prune and discard any heavily infected leaves to prevent the pathogen from colonizing healthy tissue.