Pests on fittonia
What's Happening
Fittonias are targeted by sap-sucking pests, especially when stressed by low humidity. 1) Scale: Appear as hard, flat, brown/tan bumps on the leaf undersides or stems; often mistaken for leaf damage. 2) Spider Mites: Microscopic arachnids that thrive in dry air, causing stippling (tiny yellow dots) and fine webbing. 3) Mealybugs: Cottony white masses in leaf axils. Fittonias are particularly sensitive to these pests because their thin leaves have little defense against piercing-sucking mouthparts.
How to Fix It
- 1
Isolate the plant immediately to prevent spread.
- 2
For Scale: Gently scrape off hard bumps with a fingernail or toothbrush dipped in 70% alcohol.
- 3
For Mites/Mealybugs: Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray, ensuring total coverage of leaf undersides.
- 4
Increase humidity to 70%+; most tropical pests (especially spider mites) struggle to reproduce in high-RH environments.
- 5
Note: Avoid harsh chemical pesticides as Fittonia foliage can be sensitive to chemical burn.
What You'll Need
How to Prevent It
Keep humidity high and consistent. Inspect leaf undersides weekly. Quarantine all new plants for 14 days. Wipe leaves monthly with a damp cloth to remove dust and early pest crawlers.