Spathiphyllum Figaro White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Cottony Scale Botrytis cinerea (Gray Mold)

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects produce a white, waxy, cotton-like secretion to protect themselves. They congregate in the leaf axils and undersides of Spathiphyllum foliage to suck sap, which can eventually cause yellowing or leaf drop.

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 your other houseplants.

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

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3 Wipe away visible white cottony clusters from the leaf axils using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

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Cottony Scale

Similar to mealybugs, scale insects produce a white, felt-like coating over their bodies. On a Peace Lily, these can appear as stationary white patches that interfere with the plant's ability to photosynthesize.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots are firmly attached to the stems or leaf petioles and do not move when touched.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the spread of scale insects to other houseplants.

2 Manually remove visible white cottony spots using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the protective waxy coating.

3 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the entire plant, ensuring you coat the undersides of leaves and stems to target remaining insects and eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

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Botrytis cinerea (Gray Mold)

In high-humidity environments, this fungal pathogen can create fuzzy, light-colored growths on decaying plant tissue. In Spathiphyllum, it often manifests near the base of the spadix or on older, damaged leaves.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect if the white spots are accompanied by soft, brownish, rotting tissue on the leaves.

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1 Prune and remove all affected leaves and decaying plant tissue immediately to prevent the mold from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

2 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected areas to control the Botrytis cinerea growth.