I got a pothos today and it has these tiny white specks on some of the leaves. I tried to wash them off with water and they don’t come off, but I am able to scrape them off gently with my thumb nail. They are 95% on the tops of the leaves only. I see no webs. The plant is looking otherwise healthy. I noticed the same white dots are on the container and the hanger that came with the plant. I just bought it today so I don’t know how much light it was getting before I picked it up. It was the better looking of 2 pearls and jade pothos at Rona.
by bigalittlebitt
8 Comments
The specks on your plant are either mealybugs or scale, two types of insects that sit in one place on the plant and drink the plant’s juices through straw-like mouthparts.
Mealybugs are fairly easy to remove with a 10:1 ratio of your favorite soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray the affected areas and then clean off with a gentle cloth or paper towel. Scales are usually a bit tougher, they adhere to the leaves with a sticky substance that they exude from their bodies.
http://manatee.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn_and_garden/master-gardener/gardening-manatee-style/s/scale-insects-…
The above link takes you to the University of FL’s site about these insects on house plants. You should get great info there on how to deal with this pest.
Best of wishes with your green friend 💚
Most pests would not be on the plant hanger because there’s nothing there for them to eat. Perhaps it’s mineral residue, or the plant was sprayed with something purposely or accidentally?
Maybe its lime, if yoyr waters is limeyz your plants may sort it out through the ‘mouth holes’
Since it’s on the plastic it looks like something got spilled over the plant maybe. Just wipe it off with water and a rag and it should be fine, doesn’t look like a pest, especially if they don’t move.
I’m probably so wrong, and it’s probably a spray like others are saying but looking at the plastic part of the hanger, this looks just like spider poop. Not spider mite poop, just regular spider poop. I’d suspect a jumping spider as they tend to find homes in plants since they attract bugs. You can look in the jumping spider subreddit and see how many people have jumping spiders just live in their plants inside their home and I’d imagine a nursery for plants is the prime place!
This may be an extra-floral-nectaries type natural pest control. I’ve seen this on Cissus discolor and others. It’s excreted to attract beneficial inscts like ants that will disturb the populations of pests. It’s a fascinating example of symbiosis.
edit – just noticed it’s a pothos. No idea if pothos utilize this method of pest control.
Do you have hard water? I looks like mineral deposits
Could it be paint? One of my plants has tiny brown dots like this from a tiny about of paint splatter from touching up a nearby wall.