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White Spots on cast iron plant

cast iron plant with white spots

What's Happening

Multiple possibilities: mealybugs, scale, water spots/mineral deposits, or thrips

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Wipe spots with white paper towel - if yellow/orange streaks appear = spider mites

  2. 2

    If powdery and removable = mealybugs (treat with rubbing alcohol)

  3. 3

    If hard bumps = scale (scrape off)

  4. 4

    If water spots = wipe with damp cloth; use distilled water

  5. 5

    For thrips: systemic insecticide + regular wiping

How to Prevent It

Regular leaf wiping; use distilled water; quarantine new plants

Related Problems

View all cast iron plant diagnoses →

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes white spots on my plant?
Multiple possibilities: mealybugs, scale, water spots/mineral deposits, or thrips
How do I fix white spots?
Wipe spots with white paper towel - if yellow/orange streaks appear = spider mites. If powdery and removable = mealybugs (treat with rubbing alcohol).
How do I prevent white spots from happening again?
Regular leaf wiping; use distilled water; quarantine new plants