Flamingo flower pests, webbing or sticky leaves: causes and what to do
6 results in the diagnosis tree begin with pests, 5 of them marked likely when the answers fit. They are ordered here for Flamingo flower (Anthurium andraeanum), using what its sources say about pests and diseases, humidity and watering and 2 problems recorded for it.
Sources last read 14 September 2026.
Anthurium andraeanum, also known as Édouard François André's Tailflower, is a flowering plant species in the family Araceae that is native to Colombia and Ecuador. It is a winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Native range: Colombia to Ecuador (wet tropical). Also sold as Anthurium, Flamingo Lily, Laceleaf, Painter's Palette and tail flower.
What Flamingo flower’s sources say that bears on this
- Pests and diseases
- Can be troubled by scale insects and mealybugs. Diseases: root rot from overwatering, and leaf spot.RHS · read 13 September 2026
- Humidity
- ASHRAE recommends indoor relative humidity between 30% and 60%Penn State Extension · read 13 September 2026
- Watering
- Water once the top inch of soil is dry to the touch.NC State Extension · read 13 September 2026From spring to autumn, water generously and feed every 2 weeks with an orchid fertiliser. In winter, give little water and hold the temperature above 18°C.RHS · read 13 September 2026
How this shows up on a Flamingo flower
Hard, rounded scale on the undersides of the leaves
The flamingo flower is sticky to the touch and yellows slowly. Along the veins on the undersides sit small shell-like scales that lift off with a fingernail.
RHS lists scale insects among the pests it may attract. The insect settles under a waxy shell and feeds on sap for life, so a colony builds quietly along the stems.
Telling it apart: Flick a bump with a fingernail. Scale comes away and leaves a mark; a natural bump on the stem does not move.
RHS · read 13 September 2026Sticky leaves and white fluff where they meet the stem: mealybugs
Look into the tightest angles of the plant: white woolly patches there are mealybug colonies, often with a sticky sheen on the leaves below them.
RHS lists mealybugs among the pests it may attract. They feed on sap and shed the excess as sticky honeydew, and a colony tucked into the joints spreads before it is noticed.
Telling it apart: Wipe a tuft with a cotton swab. An insect smears or crawls; a mineral deposit or a hair does not.
RHS · read 13 September 2026Possible causes, likeliest first for a Flamingo flower
Most likely mealybugs
Ranked higher because Flamingo flower's recorded problems point this way.
- Sticky leaves and white fluff where they meet the stem: mealybugs RHS
Why: Mealybugs are soft insects that cover themselves in white wax, which gives the cottony look.
What to try:
- Move the flamingo flower away from other plants.
- Wipe off every insect you can see with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, testing a single leaf first.
What would settle it: Touch a tuft with a cotton swab. If a small, pale, oval insect is underneath, it is a mealybug.
Most likely scale insects
Ranked higher because Flamingo flower's recorded problems point this way.
- Hard, rounded scale on the undersides of the leaves RHS
Why: Scale insects settle in one place under a hard or waxy shell and feed on sap.
What to try:
- Move the flamingo flower away from other plants.
- Scrape the scales off with a fingernail or a soft brush, then wipe the stems and leaves.
What would settle it: Push a bump gently with a fingernail. Scale comes away and leaves a mark; a bump that is part of the flamingo flower does not move.
Most likely spider mites
Why: Spider mites feed on individual leaf cells, and each emptied cell shows as a pale speck.
What to try:
- Move the flamingo flower away from other plants.
- Wash the leaves, top and underside, with a strong spray of water in a shower or sink.
What would settle it: Hold a sheet of white paper under a leaf and tap the leaf. Tiny specks that move across the paper are mites.
Less likely for a Flamingo flower, still possible
Questions
- What usually causes pests on a Flamingo flower?
- For Flamingo flower: mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites.
- How can I tell which one it is on my Flamingo flower?
- What can you see? Fine webbing, and tiny pale speckles on the leaves; White, cottony tufts in the leaf joints; Small brown or pale bumps on stems and leaves that do not move; Clusters of small, soft insects on the new growth; Tiny dark flies around the soil; Sticky, shiny residue, but no insect I can see.
- What do Flamingo flower's sources say about its pests and diseases?
- RHS: Can be troubled by scale insects and mealybugs. Diseases: root rot from overwatering, and leaf spot.
- What does this look like on a Flamingo flower?
- The flamingo flower is sticky to the touch and yellows slowly. Along the veins on the undersides sit small shell-like scales that lift off with a fingernail. Telling it apart: Flick a bump with a fingernail. Scale comes away and leaves a mark; a natural bump on the stem does not move.
- Is Flamingo flower safe to handle while I check it?
- Its sources list it as toxic to people. Wash your hands after handling the roots or sap, and keep trimmings away from pets.
Other plants that show pests
Calla lilyCurled, sticky new leaves with green or black insects: aphids
African violetIrregular notches bitten from leaf edges by an insect pest
Barberton daisyCurled, sticky new leaves with green or black insects: aphids
Bearded irisRagged holes and slime trails: a slug or snail pest
Bigleaf hydrangeaClusters of small soft insects on the shoot tips and buds: aphids
Bird of paradiseDull, finely mottled leaves and faint webs: spider mites
Something else wrong with the Flamingo flower?
What this does not cover
This page orders a decision tree's results using a plant's sourced care. It has not seen your plant, its pot or its window, and two problems at once are common: that is the usual reason a confident answer turns out wrong. The questions in the diagnosis tool narrow it further than a list can.