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Calathea loeseneri White Cottony Spots
eco White Cottony Spots

Calathea loeseneri – White Cottony Spots

Why does your Calathea loeseneri have white cottony spots? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.

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

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance to protect themselves as they feed on the sap of the Calathea loeseneri leaves and stems.

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 to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to other houseplants.
2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide to eliminate the insects and their waxy coating.
Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz
Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz
0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic
$10
In Stock
3 Gently wipe away visible white cottony clusters using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to kill the pests on contact.
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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, these pests create a white filamentous covering on the plant surface, often leading to yellowing of the Calathea's patterned foliage.

Common
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How to confirm: Look closely at the undersides of the leaves for small, immobile bumps beneath the white fluff.
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
Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz
0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic
$10
In Stock
2 Gently wipe the scale insects and their white filaments off the leaves using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
3 Monitor the plant's soil moisture levels to ensure the plant is not under environmental stress, which can make it more susceptible to pests.
GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter - Blue
GROWIT Soil Moisture Meter - Blue
Water Meters
$12
In Stock
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Sclerotinia (White Mold)

In high-humidity environments preferred by Calatheas, certain fungal pathogens can manifest as white, fuzzy mycelium on decaying plant tissue.

Common
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How to confirm: Check if the white spots are accompanied by soft, water-soaked, or rotting areas on the stems or leaf bases.
build How to fix it
shopping_cart Recommended Products
1 Prune and remove all infected plant tissue immediately to prevent the fungal mycelium from spreading to healthy leaves.
2 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected areas to combat the Sclerotinia pathogen and protect remaining foliage.
Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz
Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz
0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic
$12
In Stock
3 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce humidity levels to create an environment less hospitable to white mold growth.

Other Calathea loeseneri problems

Your plant might also be experiencing one of these issues:

eco Yellow Leaves chevron_right
eco Drooping Leaves chevron_right
eco Tiny Black Flies chevron_right
local_hospital All symptoms eco All plants with white cottony spots
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