Sticky leaves
#PinstripePlant
My pinstripe calathea has sticky leaves, particularly underneath. No smell or infection that I can see. Sorry if this is a daft question - I’m a quiet plant gal.
My pinstripe calathea has sticky leaves, particularly underneath. No smell or infection that I can see. Sorry if this is a daft question - I’m a quiet plant gal.
2ft to light, indirect
10” pot with drainage
Last watered 4 days ago
3
Stickiness means bugs. Even if you can't see them. They excrete a 'honeydew' aka bug poop from the sap they eat.
Thrips and some other bugs you can't really see.
I would treat it every 3 days for 6 weeks. If you happen to see itty bitty webbing (spider mites). White cottony stuff (mealy bugs) if you notice that 3 weeks will be effective. Otherwise 6 weeks of treatment.
Use Insecticidal soap (Castile)
Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water
Or neem oil
Isolate your plant so others don't also get them.
Treat entire plant stems, tops bottoms of leaves. And also pour mixture through the soil until it comes out of the bottom holes.
During 6 week period water with you treatment when needed.
Treat plant itself every 3 days for 6 continual weeks.
Insecticidal soap mix
15 ml + 4 liters
Just realized you are in England so metric.
Thrips and some other bugs you can't really see.
I would treat it every 3 days for 6 weeks. If you happen to see itty bitty webbing (spider mites). White cottony stuff (mealy bugs) if you notice that 3 weeks will be effective. Otherwise 6 weeks of treatment.
Use Insecticidal soap (Castile)
Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water
Or neem oil
Isolate your plant so others don't also get them.
Treat entire plant stems, tops bottoms of leaves. And also pour mixture through the soil until it comes out of the bottom holes.
During 6 week period water with you treatment when needed.
Treat plant itself every 3 days for 6 continual weeks.
Insecticidal soap mix
15 ml + 4 liters
Just realized you are in England so metric.
Hi @NiftyEyelashcup!
I am just adding as you haven't seen any bugs, that some plants do secrete sugary or salty substanse by themself 🤷♀️ And it is quite normal for calatheas. I have had this on some of my calatheas too.
I am not completly sure why they do it. Some says plants do it to protect themself from bugs (which doesn't really make sense😅), others that it is some kind of guttation. Some plants do it as a reaction to drought.
I think it is their way to regulate the mineral- and water-balance inside the leaf (guttation).
Either way it is a good idea to treat it just in case😊 Those bugs might be hard to spot!
https://www.reddit.com/r/calatheas/comments/yivlx0/information_on_the_white_crystals_that_form_on/
I am just adding as you haven't seen any bugs, that some plants do secrete sugary or salty substanse by themself 🤷♀️ And it is quite normal for calatheas. I have had this on some of my calatheas too.
I am not completly sure why they do it. Some says plants do it to protect themself from bugs (which doesn't really make sense😅), others that it is some kind of guttation. Some plants do it as a reaction to drought.
I think it is their way to regulate the mineral- and water-balance inside the leaf (guttation).
Either way it is a good idea to treat it just in case😊 Those bugs might be hard to spot!
https://www.reddit.com/r/calatheas/comments/yivlx0/information_on_the_white_crystals_that_form_on/