Question

Palm leaves  

Pile of waste   Hi,

I have a young palm plant that I bought from Lowes. (It's about 7" high) I was looking closely at it today, and noticed that it is severely infested by something.  Some of the leaves are looking pale and spotted. It also has a light colored bug in the soil that doesn't fly that I've seen, but it likes to stay in the soil, and I don't see them unless I disturb the soil. I also have a Moth Orchid that is affected by the same bug in the soil, although I haven't seen anything on the leaves of the orchid yet.  

The bug leaves a pile of waste (or something) at the top of the soil... it looks like the little things that some kinds of ants will put around the opening of their holes... like little tiny brown pills or something. Didn't know if that would help in diagnosing the problem. :-)

I've included a few pictures... hope that helps.

Answer
Hi Susanna,

The Big Box stores are not noted for the quality of their plants. Your Palm appears to be a Chamaedorea elegans, often called Parlor Palm. It is badly infested with spider mites. The mites appear as tiny specks of dust and they make very fine webs. If you mist the leaves you will see the water droplets collect on the webs.

Thoroughly spray the Palm with a solution of water and a squirt of liquid dish soap. Cover all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet. If you miss a few of the spider mites between the spray droplets, they will survive and reproduce and the problem will return. Thoroughness matters more than anything else.

The mottled appearance left by the spider mites is permanent damage, but new growth that comes in should be a healthy color as long as you can eradicate the mites. This particular Palm is a favorite host of spider mites.

Quality plants are potted in sterile, soil-less potting mixes that are free of any pests. Some nurseries save money by using cheaper outside soil that is often infested with various critters. My first suggestion is that you return the plant because it has so many pest problems. Otherwise, remove and discard all loose soil from the surface that is not in direct contact with the roots. Do not replace that soil and do not replace all of the soil. Then allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to become very dry. After that, submerge the pot up to its rim in a bucket or sink filled with plain water. Leave it for 45 minutes. This flooding of the soil will cause any critters to abandon the soil in search of oxygen. This is a lot of work and that is why I suggest that you return the plant and try to find a healthy one.

I have written articles on indoor plant pest and on Palm care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who emails a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com