🌿 Plant Help
Started in the forum.
🗣 Discussion
I found tiny pale specks on the back of one alocasia leaf and now I cannot tell if I am looking at dust, mineral spots, or the start of spider mites. The plant is in a warm corner under a grow light. It pushed a new leaf last month, but the oldest leaf is yellowing. I do not see actual webs. I wiped the leaf with a damp paper towel and got a little gray-green smudge, which made me more suspicious. How do you confirm spider mites before treating? I do not want to spray the whole shelf for no reason, but I also do not want to wait until it looks like a haunted attic.
Use a flashlight from the side and look along the underside veins. Spider mites often look like moving pepper dust. If you can, tap the leaf over white paper and watch for tiny dots that crawl.
Dust does not move. That is the whole test. If nothing moves after a careful look, clean the leaves and check again in a few days before you start mixing sprays.
Quarantine it while you investigate. You do not need to panic, but move it away from the shelf so the decision is lower pressure.
If you confirm mites, repeat treatment. I did every 4 days for 3 weeks because the life cycle kept laughing at my first attempt. The schedule matters more than the brand.
Alocasias also shed older leaves when they are pushing new growth or adjusting to light. The yellow older leaf by itself would not scare me. The pale specks are worth checking closely.
A cheap jewelers loupe changed pest checks for me. I thought my eyes were good until I saw mites clearly through one. It also saves you from treating lint.
✍️ Continue the discussion
Continue the discussion
Add your reply.
Log in to post.
Logged in as Member.
Log in to post your reply
Your draft stays here. Choose a sign-in method below.
Use Google or email. Your draft stays on this page.
