Hi Geri,

You have a beautiful Anthurium, and we're sorry your plant isn't looking its very best. It does not look to be in any grave danger, but left untreated it can potentially get worse. We're here to help. From the pictures you provided, this looks like something called Anthurium Gall. It is a series of small tumor caused by a virus that is injected into the leaf from of a midge bite. A midge is a very small fly commonly called "noseeums." Unfortunately, the damage to the existing leaves cannot be reversed, but with proper treatment, you can get rid of the problem and new leaves will be unaffected. There are two ways to effectively treat Anthurium Gall:

1. Mix a dilution of Neem Oil and water in a clean spray bottle, and lightly mist both sides of each leaf and flower. Neem oil is non-toxic, naturally occurring pesticide and is widely available in nurseries, plant stores and online. It is approved for indoor use and is pet-friendly. If you do purchase Neem Oil to treat your Anthurium, please follow the directions on the bottle for how to dilute and the frequency of application.

2. Midge are attracted to soil and it's not uncommon for these pests to lay eggs there if the conditions are favorable. If it is ready to repot, now may be a great time to do so. When repotting, gently remove as much soil as you can from the roots and discard the old soil in the trash. Use a gentle stream of luke warm water to carefully wash the roots and remove as much remaining soil as possible. Then replant in a clean, well-draining pot using sterile potting mix.

These two methods combined may provide you with the best results and your Anthurium should be just fine. Please let us know if you have any questions, and if these helped or not. We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day,

Rick L.

Master Gardener Apprentice

Geri,

The ready to use Neem oil should be suitable. You may want to spray outdoors, just in case of any overspray.

Best of luck!

Rick L.

Master Gardener Apprentice