Hi!

This time I'd like to ask about some holes (and brown, "dry" spots which will possibly be holes soon) in the leaves of an iron cast plant.

- There are only 3-5 small holes throughout the whole plant (they are surely holes, because I can see through them)
- They definitely do not look like mechanical issues
- I saw a number of light colored, tiny insects on the backside of the leaves. I have no equipment to make a proper photo of them due to their size. I also saw some white spots on the backside of the leaves, but first they really look like signs of spraying with hard water before. They are not moving too fast or too slow (well, slightly fast). They do not fly. Once I get one of them on my fingertip, they'd stop moving.

Do you have any suggestions for this problem? Thank you.

The small spots and holes are normal blemishes that most all plants have if you look carefully enough.

It's possible that what you are seeing on the undersides of the leaves are spider mites. Can you post a photo of the leaf undersides as you did with the topsides already posted?

WillC said:The small spots and holes are normal blemishes that most all plants have if you look carefully enough.

It's possible that what you are seeing on the undersides of the leaves are spider mites. Can you post a photo of the leaf undersides as you did with the topsides already posted?

Here you go. Please note that I could not present any mites on the photos, and the leaves' backsides are already washed slightly at the time of making the photo, but they are and were there, and they were moving. Also: this plant is near (but not under) a northern roofwindow, it gets a bit of distilled water every 10 days, and no misting. The room is generally warm and dry. Aircon device is working in the next room with open doors, but does not blow the cold towards this plant.

I do see what appears to be the mottled or pinpricked surface on some of the leaves that suggest that there were and may still be some live mites on your Aspidistra.

To be on the safe side spray all of the leaf surfaces, tops and bottoms, until they are dripping wet with a solution of soapy water. Then, wipe the leaves dry. The mottling will not go away but a thorough soap coverage should eliminate any live mites.

Mites thrive in warm, dry air, and on dehydrated plants. While it is important that Aspidistras not get overwatered, it is easy to go too far in the opposite direction by letting the soil get too dry. I suggest that you water yours as soon as the top inch of soil feels s dry to your touch. Always water thoroughly enough that some water trickles through the drain holes.

WillC said:

To be on the safe side spray all of the leaf surfaces, tops and bottoms, until they are dripping wet with a solution of soapy water. Then, wipe the leaves dry. The mottling will not go away but a thorough soap coverage should eliminate any live mites.

Thank you! As for the soapy water: how exactly to do that?

Should I use distilled water? What temperature?
What kind of soap should I use and in what ratio? (How much soap to mix with how much water?)

Also, should I repeat this process in some time?

Standard room temperature tap water should be fine. Any normal liquid dish soap is fine. Just enough soap to make the water slippery.

If you are thorough you won't need to repeat the treatment, but do continue to be vigilant in case they come back.

WillC said:Standard room temperature tap water should be fine. Any normal liquid dish soap is fine. Just enough soap to make the water slippery.

If you are thorough you won't need to repeat the treatment, but do continue to be vigilant in case they come back.

Thanks! Done by the instruction (see pictures). Also, I do hope that the soap itself (as it flows down with the water towards to roots) doesn't do any harm to the plant. But I suppose not, since you suggested this solution. Wiped it dry after ~2 minutes. Should I shower the plant with clean water as well, just to make sure the remains of the dish soap are fully gone?

Drainville - Dishsoap/ detergent's effect on plants varies with the mode of exposure. Dawn, Palmolive, Joy, ...... dishsoap, as an example, are each and all a mishmash of chemicals, at least eleven of which are phytotoxic. If the top of the plant is sprayed thoroughly with even mild detergent solutions such that all surfaces including leaves are covered, the detergent can easily dissolve the protective coating of cuticular wax on the leaves of the plant, causing abnormally high rates of water loss and possible necrosis of all or part of the leaf. Cuticular waxes prevent leaves from drying out, and help stop pathogens from attacking the leaf. Strong solutions will even dissolve cell membranes, causing death of the cells.
If a detergent solution is used as a soil drench or makes its way into the soil as a consequence of over-spray or run-off, the effect on roots is immediate. Because one of the main function of roots is to absorb water and nutrients dissolved in water, they lack the waxy protective coating that leaves employ. Detergent solution in contact with root cells can quickly dissolve the lipid membrane surrounding cells, killing the cells and inhibiting water/ nutrient uptake. Hair cells growing as appendages off larger roots do the lion's share of assimilating water and nutrients, and these very delicate cells would be the first casualty of any detergent in the root zone.
There are widely available insecticidal soaps, designed to be used topically and made mixing potassium with only long chain fatty acids, carefully selected and specifically formulated to be safe for mammals & birds, death on most insects they contact, and most important, safe for plants. If you need something "soapy", it would be much better if you selected a product intended for use on plants than one intended for other purposes.
If you don't wish to purchase insecticidal soap, you'd be better served to spritz at 4 day intervals with a 3:1 solution of water:70% isopropyl/rubbing alcohol - not the wintergreen scented product. As with the insecticidal soap, the alcohol solution depends on contact, so be sure to spray all parts of the plant thoroughly and cover the soil until the application has dried.

Al

tapla said:Drainville - Dishsoap/ detergent's effect on plants varies with the mode of exposure. Dawn, Palmolive, Joy, ...... dishsoap, as an example, are each and all a mishmash of chemicals, at least eleven of which are phytotoxic. If the top of the plant is sprayed thoroughly with even mild detergent solutions such that all surfaces including leaves are covered, the detergent can easily dissolve the protective coating of cuticular wax on the leaves of the plant, causing abnormally high rates of water loss and possible necrosis of all or part of the leaf. Cuticular waxes prevent leaves from drying out, and help stop pathogens from attacking the leaf. Strong solutions will even dissolve cell membranes, causing death of the cells.
If a detergent solution is used as a soil drench or makes its way into the soil as a consequence of over-spray or run-off, the effect on roots is immediate. Because one of the main function of roots is to absorb water and nutrients dissolved in water, they lack the waxy protective coating that leaves employ. Detergent solution in contact with root cells can quickly dissolve the lipid membrane surrounding cells, killing the cells and inhibiting water/ nutrient uptake. Hair cells growing as appendages off larger roots do the lion's share of assimilating water and nutrients, and these very delicate cells would be the first casualty of any detergent in the root zone.

There are widely available insecticidal soaps, designed to be used topically and made mixing potassium with only long chain fatty acids, carefully selected and specifically formulated to be safe for mammals & birds, death on most insects they contact, and most important, safe for plants. If you need something "soapy", it would be much better if you selected a product intended for use on plants than one intended for other purposes.
If you don't wish to purchase insecticidal soap, you'd be better served to spritz at 4 day intervals with a 3:1 solution of water:70% isopropyl/rubbing alcohol - not the wintergreen scented product. As with the insecticidal soap, the alcohol solution depends on contact, so be sure to spray all parts of the plant thoroughly and cover the soil until the application has dried.

Al

Please note that I may understand this - but sounds really expert compared to my knowledge/my original (not exactly plants related) profession. Also, I already used a dish soap solution so my only question to you guys is, is there possibly a root damage if the soil is contacted with the dish soap, and should I shower the leaves afterwards with clean water?

What you should take away from my message is the idea that dishsoaps/detergents are a mishmash of phytotoxic (poison to plants) and damaging ingredients that harm plants in a variety of ways, even at low concentrations. That they don't kill plants outright shouldn't be viewed as a clarion call to use them. Best to stick with products with less potential for damage.

Many might suggest that because they've used dishsoap/water solutions before and no damage was conspicuous, there was none, but you can't see compromised root membranes, a higher level of transpirational water loss or increases susceptibility to pathogen entry into the plant through damaged leaf cuticles. If you have already used dishsoap, any damage will have already have been done to leaves, but damage to root lipid membranes would be ongoing. I would cover the soil with something like saran wrap, then spray the leaves off to rid them of residues, then flush substrate thoroughly to remove what might still be in the soil.

Al

WillC said:Standard room temperature tap water should be fine. Any normal liquid dish soap is fine. Just enough soap to make the water slippery.

If you are thorough you won't need to repeat the treatment, but do continue to be vigilant in case they come back.

@Drainville, WillC's advise is excellent. You do not want to rinse off the soap/water solution, but use only a tiny bit of the soap.

Info about dishsoap and plants:

https://www.gardenmyths.com/di...
Al

@Drainville - The limited amount of normal dish soap runoff into the soil will not cause any harm. Even rinsing after spraying is not necessary.

WillC said:@Drainville - The limited amount of normal dish soap runoff into the soil will not cause any harm. Even rinsing after spraying is not necessary.

Thank you! The plant is living with no visible damage, however, I'll check back for mites and let you know.