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Avatar for marchkelli
Jan 12, 2025 1:52 PM CST
Thread OP
Pompano Beach, FL
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These are on the back of my monstera and philos. They are little black dots that are difficult to scratch off
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Jan 12, 2025 2:06 PM CST
Name: PotterK
Seattle, WA
I don't know what they are, but I do know that I would not worry about them. The leaf looks oldish. The plant looks healthy. The natural world is full of wonders.

If the plant declines, then you might have a problem.
But there's no problem now.
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Jan 12, 2025 2:11 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
When you manage to remove one, does it leave a hole in the leaf? Or just a little mark. Do the things squish between your fingers?

Can you get a clearer photo? I'm concerned they might be hard scale insects.
Avatar for marchkelli
Jan 12, 2025 2:13 PM CST
Thread OP
Pompano Beach, FL
It almost looks like black paint got splattered on it but that's not it. They had these before about a couple months ago and they went away. Maybe from me spraying with MITICIDE ?
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Last edited by marchkelli Jan 12, 2025 2:23 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for marchkelli
Jan 12, 2025 2:19 PM CST
Thread OP
Pompano Beach, FL
They are hard spots that have to be scratched off. I scratched one off and it's hard and I can't smoosh it
Avatar for Toedtoes
Jan 12, 2025 3:08 PM CST
Sacramento, Ca
They look raised not flat. When you managed to scrape one off what does the underside look like?
Avatar for marchkelli
Jan 12, 2025 3:12 PM CST
Thread OP
Pompano Beach, FL
Yes, they are raised. When I take one off then there's not a brown spot. Those black things are on several of my outside plants, philodendrons and my monstera.
Avatar for Toedtoes
Jan 12, 2025 3:13 PM CST
Sacramento, Ca
What does the underside of the "spot" look like? Does it look smooth or does it look like it has feet or mandibles, etc?
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Jan 12, 2025 3:18 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
I did a little research and found a couple references to black dots caused by overwatering but I really don't know.

@Gina1960, can you help? Thank You!
Last edited by Lucy68 Jan 12, 2025 3:20 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 12, 2025 3:20 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

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Looks like scale insects to me.
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Avatar for CalPolygardener
Jan 12, 2025 3:28 PM CST
California (Zone 9b)
I agree
If there are that few and the plants still look good, I would put off doing anything until it gets much worse.
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Jan 12, 2025 3:44 PM CST
N. California (Zone 10b)
They don't look like scale to me; and they OP says they're hard and don't squish. The placement of them doesn't look typical for scale, and scale is fairly rare on Monstera (in my experience).
If it is some sort of natural exudate from the plant I would posit that it means some sort of cultural issue.
Last edited by Hortica Jan 12, 2025 5:29 PM Icon for preview
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Jan 12, 2025 3:57 PM CST
Name: Zoë
Albuquerque NM, Elev 5310 ft (Zone 7b)
Bee Lover Salvias Region: New Mexico Herbs Container Gardener Composter
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Can you see similar black spots on other nearby objects besides plants? Do you use wood mulch?Could be artillery fungus.
I don't think it's scale.

https://plant-pest-advisory.ru...
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Jan 12, 2025 4:52 PM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Greenhouse Tropicals
It looks like Black Scale to me. I have had scale on Monstera adansonii, on Thai Constellation and on the regular green form deliciosa before. Its not at all uncommon.
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Jan 13, 2025 4:14 AM CST
Kaneohe, Hawaii
They look like scale to me but whether they are or not I would remove them. The most environmentally friendly way is to spray it with a mild Dawn solution or rubbing alcohol. Wait a minute then flick them off with your thumbnail. Rinse the plant off then check it in a week.
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Jan 13, 2025 6:17 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Greenhouse Tropicals
I personally do not recommend the use of Dawn (or any) dish soap, alcohol or Neem Oil on plants, especially aroids.
Soap is a surfactant and a degreaser. It can damage the waxy cuticle of the leaf blade. The Dawn that used to be on TV washing the oil off the little birds in not the same Dawn we have now. They have added so many things to it, made it even more powerful, antibacterial, and its just not a really good option.
Alcohol is a solvent and a degreaser. It is very drying, and can also damage and even remove the cuticle.
Neem oil and other agricultural oil sprays are meant to be used on things like dormant fruit trees. They can and will burn the leaves if applied in too much light, and leave an oily residue that can clog the stomata (the pores) on a leaf blade and interfere with plant respiration.
Even though it may be enviromentally friendly, if you really like the plant, a better choice is to use a real insecticide meant to treat scale (or mealy bug, or scale).
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Jan 19, 2025 7:02 PM CST
Name: LacyLou
Sacramento, California (Zone 9a)
This is artillery fungus or shotgun fungus (Sphaerobulus stellatus). It develops on rotting wood chip mulch in a moist environment. Sphaerobolus can occasionally be a problem in container-grown plants when bark or wood products are components of the potting media. It can't be controlled by fungicides, only manual removal.

https://portal.ct.gov/caes/fac...
https://www.thespruce.com/arti...
Last edited by LacyLou Jan 19, 2025 7:04 PM Icon for preview
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