Calathea crocata White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybug Infestation Cottony Scale Sclerotinia (White Mold)

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Mealybug Infestation

Mealybugs are common pests for Calatheas that secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance to protect themselves. They feed on the plant's sap, which can lead to leaf yellowing and stunted growth in Firestarter Calathea.

Very Common

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

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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 remove the waxy coating.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

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

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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, scale insects can produce white, fluffy coverings on the undersides of leaves or stems. This disrupts the nutrient flow within the Calathea's vascular system.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the stem joints and leaf undersides for small, hard bumps underneath the white fuzz.

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

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Carefully wipe the undersides of leaves and stems with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to remove visible scale pests.

3 Isolate the Calathea from other houseplants to prevent the scale from spreading to healthy plants.

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Sclerotinia (White Mold)

In high-humidity environments required by Calathea crocata, fungal pathogens like Sclerotinia can manifest as white, fuzzy mycelium on organic matter or leaf bases. This is often triggered by poor air circulation around the foliage.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots are accompanied by soft, decaying tissue or mushy stems.

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1 Remove all heavily infected leaves and organic debris from the plant base to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy tissue.

2 Apply a fungicide to the affected areas and improve air circulation around the foliage by using a small fan or spacing plants further apart.

Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

3 Reduce humidity slightly and ensure the plant is not sitting in stagnant, overly moist air, which can be monitored using a moisture meter to prevent overwatering.