Spider mites
Faint webbing across the leaves and a dusty, speckled stippling are the signs of spider mites.
Diagnosis
Spider mites
What's happening
Spider mites are nearly microscopic pests that thrive in warm, dry indoor air. They feed on the underside of the leaves, puncturing cells until the surface looks finely stippled and dull, and in a heavy infestation they spin delicate webbing between leaves and stems. They spread fast and can run a heartleaf down quickly if ignored.
How to fix it
Move the plant away from your others and rinse it well in the shower or sink, focusing on the undersides of the leaves to knock the mites loose. Then treat the whole plant thoroughly with neem oil, coating every surface, and repeat every five to seven days for a few weeks to break the breeding cycle. Mites hate humidity, so raising the moisture in the air around the plant helps keep them from coming back.
What fixes it
- Neem oil for pests — Neem oil smothers spider mites and their eggs and discourages them from re-establishing.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Heartleaf Philodendron care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this