Troubleshooting · Pests
Sticky residue, tiny webs, or chewed leaves — the first step is figuring out what's feeding, then matching the treatment to the culprit.
The first rule of pest diagnosis is identification: don't spray anything until you know what's feeding. Different pests need different treatments, and some of the sprays will damage the plant if the pest isn't actually there.
Care profile
Likely causes
Each cause below has a quick check you can do in about thirty seconds. Stop as soon as one matches. You’ve found your answer.
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and secrete sticky honeydew. They reproduce fast but die easily.
Quick check
Look at the undersides of new leaves and tender stems. Aphids are usually green, black, or yellow and move slowly.
What to do
Blast them off with a strong jet of water from a hose or sink sprayer, or wipe them off with a cloth. A weekly dish-soap spray (a few drops per quart of water) keeps them in check.
Nearly invisible mites that leave fine webbing and stippled, dusty-looking leaves. They thrive in dry air and warm conditions, especially indoors in winter.
Quick check
Hold a leaf up to the light. Fine speckling and a faint web in the axils means spider mites.
What to do
Rinse the plant thoroughly in the shower, including the undersides of leaves. Raise humidity around the plant. For persistent infestations, apply insecticidal soap every five days for three weeks.
Small black flies that hover around pots. The adults are harmless; the larvae feed on root hairs and organic matter in wet soil.
Quick check
Do small flies drift up when you water, and is the top inch of soil chronically wet?
What to do
Let the top inch of soil dry completely between waterings. Cover the soil surface with a layer of sand or fine gravel. Yellow sticky traps catch the adults while the dryness kills the larvae.
White, cottony masses in leaf axils and stem joints. Slower and less mobile than aphids, but harder to reach.
Quick check
Are there cottony white spots where leaves join the stem?
What to do
Dab each insect with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For large infestations, drench the whole plant with insecticidal soap, then repeat in a week.
This page is beginner-friendly general guidance, not professional horticultural, medical, or veterinary advice. For pet-exposure questions, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. For persistent plant-health issues, your local university cooperative extension office is the best free expert in the country. See our full disclaimer for details.