The question can actually be answered with just a quick glance, because pests on plants are noticeable, if not just the animals themselves, through cobwebs or sticky substances on the leaves. We have summarized for you which pests are common on the Monstera. This way you will be able to quickly identify and combat the culprit.
What types of pests are common on this large-leaved plant?
Although the Monstera is not very susceptible to pests, it can still happen that it has to suffer from them. Common species are those that often have to be fought on other houseplants.
How to properly care for the beautiful plantfind out here.
You can recognize spider mites by their threads
Spider mites are extremely tiny and, despite the constant movement, they are not easily recognizable. But the blessing in disguise are the spider threads that they produce and immediately reveal their presence. Time to act!
If discovered in time, you can use water alone to prevent the spread and get rid of the spider mites. To do this, wipe it with a damp cloth and/or spray the plant daily. It would also be helpful to ensure that the humidity is sufficiently high. This works quite well, for example, with a small bowl of water that you place near the plant.
If the pests on the Monstera have already spread significantly, you can also use home remedies to help.Find out here, which works well against the mites.
Mealybugs look fluffy
The name already gives it away: mealybugs look like little pieces of wool. Like scale insects and other lice, they secrete honeydew and thereby cause sticky leaves, which is the least of their problems. Because while they suck out the plant sap, they also give the plant poison in return, which weakens it. The combination of the two damages all parts of the plant over time.
Wipe the mealybugs, as they are also called, with a damp rag. Since they like to stay in the leaf axils, you should not neglect them. A moistened cotton swab is best for cleaning these plant areas.
In this way, it is quite easy to get rid of the pests provided you have discovered them at an early stage. If the infestation is already very advanced, this can help, for examplethese measures.
Scale insects have a protective shell
It is not particularly difficult to distinguish one type of lice from the others. They have a rounded shell under which they can protect themselves well from external influences. Therefore, they are somewhat more resistant than the pests mentioned above. However, if the infestation is severe, you can easily remove them from the plant with your fingers or a moistened cotton swab, wipe them off on a piece of toilet paper or kitchen paper and finally dispose of them.
Black spots on the leaves?That could be the reason!
The infestation cannot only be recognized by the animals. Even beforehand, when they are still relatively tiny and not particularly noticeable, they reveal their presence through the honeydew that they excrete and which makes the leaves sticky. Honeydew is basically the excretion of lice, which is the result of the sucked out plant sap. Over time, this suction causes deformation of the leaves.
Did you notice the infestation too late and now the lice are very stubborn? Then you cantry with home remediesbefore you resort to commercial pesticides.
Thrips and their larvae
These annoying little animals injure the leaves and can be recognized by this at the latest. Before real holes appear, the thrips and their larvae cause fine, silvery spots. If you notice any of these, take a look at the undersides of the leaves, as that is where the animals live. If they can still be found sporadically, it is probably enough to give the plant a good shower. If the infestation is more severe, you can first try so-called blue boards, to which the flying insects stick.
If that doesn't really reduce the population, try itwith these means.
Measures if you notice pests on the Monstera
This applies to both diseases and pests: infected plants must be isolated. You can then start combating:
- By insulating them, you prevent the pests from spreading to other plants (and trust us, that can happen really quickly). Choose a room that does not contain any plants, but offers suitable conditions for the Monstera, i.e. is bright.
- At the temporary location, wipe down the leaves and stems. It would be even better to rinse them well in the shower or in the bathtub.
- Leaves that are yellow or brown and can no longer be saved can be removed immediately and disposed of with household waste.
- From now on, spray the plant daily with water and a spray bottle. The moisture will be good for the plant, while the pests will find an uncomfortable environment.
- Take care of your Monstera as usual. Water them regularly and ensure there is good humidity, as pests usually like it dry.
- If you no longer notice any pest infestation over a longer period of time, the Monstera can return to its usual place.
- Check plants regularly for pest infestation. The quicker you notice it and act, the quicker you will get rid of the pests.
Avoidthese care errorsfor a healthy and magnificent Monstera plant!
Titelbild: Zhuravlev Andrey/ Shutterstock
