Aphids on houseplants
Common causes of aphids and the first things to check, summarized from 14 PlantGrail care records across 14 plants (as of ).
What causes aphids on houseplants?
It depends on the plant and how it is kept, so check the plant pages below. For Anthurium, the records explain it like this: Aphids (Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae) colonize Anthurium andraeanum to feed on phloem sap, targeting new growth, flower spathes, and tender leaf undersides. These soft-bodied insects reproduce parthenogenetically, producing live young every 3-5 days, allowing populations to explode from 10 to 1000+ individuals within 3 weeks. Heavy infestations cause leaf curling, stunted growth, and honeydew secretion that promotes sooty mold growth on foliage.
Common first steps
- Quarantine infested plant immediately to prevent spread to collection
- Manual removal: Wipe aphids from leaves with damp cloth or cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Insecticidal soap treatment: Apply 2% solution (1 tsp castile soap per quart water) every 5-7 days for 3 applications, targeting leaf undersides
Plants with records for aphids
Most records first. Open a plant for its own causes and fixes.
- anthurium Anthurium spp.Plant care guide
- philodendron Philodendron spp.Plant care guide
- calathea Goeppertia spp.Plant care guide
- spider plant Chlorophytum comosumPlant care guide
- rose Rosa spp.Plant care guide
- bromeliad Bromeliaceae (family)Plant care guide
- haworthia Haworthiopsis spp.Plant care guide
- pitcher plant Pitcher PlantPlant care guide
- tradescantia Tradescantia spp. / wandering dudePlant care guide
- wandering jew wandering jew
- tradescantia nanouk tradescantia nanouk
- philodendron imperial red philodendron imperial red
- coleus wizard coleus wizard
- strawberry Plant care guide
Questions about aphids
Which plants have the most records for aphids?
anthurium, philodendron, calathea, spider plant, rose and 9 others.
Can aphids be prevented?
Inspect new plants thoroughly before introducing to collection—check leaf undersides and new growth. Maintain strong airflow around plants. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen which creates soft, aphid-attractive growth.
What are these records?
This page summarizes 14 PlantGrail care records on aphids. Records describe care topics; they are not counts of observed plants or treatment outcomes.