So I've got this Monstera plant thats been with us for a while but recently got attacked by these tiny tiny black insects that keep eating the leaves. I've actively tried to get rid of them as well as screening this plant away from the rest, but the insects seem to always come back. I've just read that it's possible to spray the plant gently with soappy water to help get rid of them, so I've just tried that - hoping to see better results. The uther leaves are more or less OK, but have some damage too. But what do I do with this leaf that's basically half gone? Does one cut of just the leaf part? The whole stem? What's the best thing to do in this scenario?
Appreciate any pointers ๐
Identifying the culprit would probably be the first step. You'll need to treat it in a specific way if it's something like thrips.
After that your solution could be as simple as getting "good" insects that feeds on them. Those are sold in a packet that you drop in the soil. It can also be a periodic respray or watering with a insecticide infused water.
But first, identify the insects.
Take a picture of the pest and post it on here. However not much will attack a healthy monstera. I would guess the plant is struggling and the pests are attacking it in its weakened state.
How to keep a monstera healthy.
Monstera's tolerate low light situations but do best with several hours a day of direct sunlight. I generally put mine someplace that gets the morning or evening sun.
Watering: over-watering them is really easy to do. In general you should water them to the saturation point and then allow the soil to dry out. I water mine every 2 months in the winter and around once per month in the summer. If a new big leaf is emerging the water usage will triple and they will need a drink sooner.
Fertilizer- monstera's are a big plant that uses lots of fertilizer. I use slow release fertilizer in the soil plus a liquid one twice per year.
Salt buildup- monstera's are very sensitive to salt concentrations in the soil. Leaching the pot yearly is required. Do not water with "softened" water either. They do really well with hard water as long as you leach the pot on a schedule. They like the extra Ca and Mg.
Moving/turning the plant: although recommended for other species monstera's respond poorly to this. The leaves open away from the sunlight then tip up toward the light. Moving the plant stresses them out.
Yeah I'll try to indetify the culprit and see what I can find. Any tip on what to do with the leaf in specific?