Calathea Glamour Star White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Oidium (Powdery Mildew) Cottony Scale

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects secrete a white, waxy, cottony substance to protect themselves while feeding on the Calathea's sap. They often cluster in the crevices between leaf blades and near the stem base.

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 to kill the insects and their waxy coating.

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3 Gently wipe away visible cottony clusters using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to remove the pests from crevices.

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Oidium (Powdery Mildew)

A fungal pathogen that thrives in high humidity with poor air circulation, common in Calatheas. It presents as a white, dusty coating on the leaf surface that can eventually lead to leaf necrosis.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots look like a fine dust that can be wiped off easily with your finger without leaving a residue behind.

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1 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected leaves to eliminate the powdery mildew spores and prevent further spread.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

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2 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce localized humidity to create an environment less hospitable to fungal growth.

3 Prune and dispose of heavily infected leaves to prevent the pathogen from spreading to healthy foliage.

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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, these pests produce a white filamentous covering. They attach themselves to the underside of the leaves or stems, sucking nutrients and causing the plant to weaken.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves for small, immobile bumps covered in white fuzz.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the spread of scale to other houseplants and treat the visible white spots with an organic insecticide spray.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove the cottony scale insects from the undersides of leaves and stems.

3 Monitor the plant's health and ensure the environment remains humid, as stress can make plants more susceptible to infestations.