What's eating my Philodendron?

16 years ago

I noticed today when potting some rooted cutting I made of this plant that two of the leaves have been almost completely eaten! It's like something was munching on them and stopped just before the base of the leaf. I haven't seen any pests or eggs or anything! What should I look for?

Featured Answer

mr_subjunctive

16 years ago

These were plants that were outside? 'Cause outside, it could be all kinds of things; no way to really tell unless the bug(s) send you a thank-you note.

And almost *nobody* writes thank-you notes anymore.

If you don't see webbing or bugs or bumps or fluffy masses or any of the usual suspects (and you probably wouldn't: none of the usual indoor suspects actually consume the whole leaf; they're sap-sucking parasites, not leaf-chewers), I really have no idea. Obviously you've checked the plant for the presence of caterpillars, crickets, locust swarms, squirrels, cats, and toddlers already.

You could look the plant over carefully at varying times of day for a week or so, to see if you can catch anything in the act. At the very least, a week's time should tell you whether or not it's an ongoing problem, and if nothing more happens, you can probably forget about it.

A longer-shot option would be to try to completely submerge the pot in a bucket of water, to see if anything wriggles out of the soil, but even if something did, I'm not sure you could assume that it's your culprit, and the soaking could be more traumatic for the plant than the loss of leaves was.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

watergal
16 years ago
Rabbits? Groundhogs? Possibly slugs or snails?
Related Discussions
Something is eating my Philodendron leaves
Q
Comments (1)
Thank you for your post. I didn't know philodendrons could be hardy. I have 7 or 8 pots of Philodendron Hope the one they say is hardy. I will be planting on the edge of my bog garden. Learn something every day. Tony
...See More
Something is eating my philodendron leaves
Q
Comments (4)
Most aroids are toxic, some far more than others. Taros included. Cultivated taros have been bred over the centuries for lower levels of toxicity, but most still do have some. Cooking destroys the toxins, something that humans worked out long long ago. But it's a long and thorough process. Don't try nibbling them raw, but otherwise they're quite okay done properly. They've been the staple food of many people for a long time.
...See More
What are these insects on my split leaf philodendron?
Q
Comments (4)
thrips are usually not white, kinda light brown or black. but there are so-o many different kinds.. if you can make out many legs and very narrow sigar shape , it could be immature thrips.. not clear enough to see. but it looks like white fly to me. disturb them, see if they take off or 'jump' - then it is likely white fly. immature thrips are very sluggish, white fly is sluggish too, but they do 'take off'.
...See More
What is happening to my Philodendron?
Q
Comments (5)
Stems don't grow new leaves (except at the tip) unless it is the beginning of a new branch.
...See More
blossom_girl
Original Author
16 years ago
Actually, the plants were indoors! I had them rooting in a glass of water before I potted them. I guess this makes it a little more strange. It looks like a caterpillar or something of the sort was munching on the leaves! I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
mr_subjunctive
16 years ago
Do you have any cats or dogs? Roommates?

Slugs / snails might still be a possibility indoors (I've had two hitch rides with newly-purchased plants), if there are other plants where they could hide.

But it's not sounding like something that's going to be an ongoing problem; no common indoor pests would do that. So probably you're fine.
watergal
16 years ago
Could be a caterpillar that snuck inside - I've had that happen before. If the leaves seemed to get munched on from the edges inward, it is probably a large chewing insect such as a caterpillar. You may eventually find a moth or butterfly flying around your plant (I did!).
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
16 years ago
We had a cockteel in a sunroom, usually set on top of it's cage in the daytime, really disliked being inside the cage with the door latched - anyway, I took a small-leafed philodendron into the room and the bird went after the plant as if it were starving and ate a huge chunk of one leaf before I noticed and moved the plant. Other plants in the room were not attractive to the bird.

Since others are speculating I thought I would share this experience.
blossom_girl
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, everyone. I guess maybe it could have just been some bug fat hungry caterpillar or something! I do have a cat but it's not her because she isn't allowed in the room where this plant is. I think it's toxic, but I'm not sure.

Thanks again!
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Albert, I hope your cockatiel is okay..Philodendrons are toxic..You're lucky your bird is alive.
If he/she ate the Philo, depending on its toxicity, (type of plant) he/she has to be healthy to either regurgitate or poop its toxins out of his/her system. Please be careful which plants you place in the bird room. I raise cockatiels..Not only are they babies, but one pair breed. There's so many dangers w/birds.

Blossom, if the cutting was inside your house, rooting in a jar, how did a caterpillar happen to get to your cutting without you spotting it? LOL. Did you have the cutting in sight or somewhere away from people? Most 'pillars I've seen are large and slow. Wouldn't you have noticed it strolling by? LOL..Oh God, I'm sitting her laughing, though it's not funny..Sorry.
What size is the cutting? If it were mine, I'd place under running water, clean by sprinkling a couple drops of dish soap, kneading leaves, rinsing, remove chewed foliage, add fresh water, and place in an area I could keep watch.
If your kitty-cat was suspect, he/she would have taken large bites. Or ripped the plant from its container.
I dislike bringing this up again, but I'm an animal lover..Philos are harmful to cats/dogs/birds. Hope you find the culprit..let us know..Toni
blossom_girl
Original Author
16 years ago
hopefulauthor, I have no idea how a big slow caterpillar could sneak in and not be noticed LOL. But it would help that I keep my philodendrons in a room to which the door is always closed and nobody really spends much time in there. It could be anything but the bites look like those of a rather large insect.

I know it wasn't my cat or rabbit who chewed the plant because it's kept behind closed doors so that they can't get to it. I'm a veterinary assistant (though not working as one at present :( ) so I'm very careful with plants. In fact, this one was given to me before I had either of my animals, otherwise I never would have accepted it!
Connye Hatfield
6 years ago
I have a lime Brazil philly, I also have a caterpillar in my custody. I have several butterfly/moth reference books, but could not find a picture of my culprit. Does anyone have a thought of the identity of my caterpillar. Prob not a butterfly, they are very "plant specific". Most likely a moth. Has this ever happened to anyone reading this or to a "friend of a friend" reading this?
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Sure, many moths or other flying critters are not host-specific at all, the way you mention butterflies are. Something like an armyworm will munch on about anything. I've caught them munching on many diff plants.
Connye Hatfield
6 years ago
Thanx Tiff. Very sweet of you to help.