Spider mites
Fine pale stippling with delicate webbing on the undersides is spider mites — Calathea's number-one pest, thriving in the dry air that already stresses it.
Diagnosis
Spider mites
What's happening
Spider mites are tiny sap-sucking pests that flourish in warm, dry conditions, exactly the dry air that Calathea Orbifolia struggles with. They cluster on the undersides of the leaves, piercing cells to feed, which leaves a fine sand-like speckling of pale dots across the surface. As the infestation grows they spin thin webbing in the leaf joints and undersides, and the leaves fade, yellow, and dry out.
How to fix it
Isolate the plant immediately so the mites don't spread. Rinse it thoroughly in the shower, paying special attention to the leaf undersides, then treat all surfaces with insecticidal soap or a neem solution, repeating every 5–7 days for three to four weeks to catch newly hatched mites. Wipe the big leaves down between treatments and raise the humidity afterward, since mites hate damp air and Orbifolia loves it.
What fixes it
- Insecticidal soap — Insecticidal soap coats and kills spider mites on contact and is gentle enough for Calathea's thin leaves with repeat use.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Calathea Orbifolia care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this