I took these pictures on May 31. Since then, it has gotten so much worse. The leaves don't curl anymore. If I touch one, it falls off. It's lost a lot of leaves on it's own too, they're turning yellow. What's creating the spots and causing it to turn yellow? I would really like it to flower, I'm hoping it will once it gets warmer and I can leave outside to get more sun. I obviously need to re-pot it, maybe that will help it? And what's with the white around the base? It's a parrot plant/flower, whatever the difference is, I don't know. It's really hard to find info about it. The pictures are deceiving, they make it look a lot healthier and greener than it is. I have tons more pictures. I can take more up-to-date ones if it makes it easier to figure out what's going on with it.
Jill try this http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/fasulo/woodypest/thrips.htm Seems to have a lot of info. barb
Great websites, thanks so much to both of you. I have Schultz Houseplant & Garden Insect Spray. Do you think I could spray my parrot plant/flower with it and it will be ok? It claims to take care of thrip problems. I've never used it; I've never had any kind of insect problem with any of my plants (I don't even know why I have the stuff). I'm assuming it will be relatively safe to treat my parrot plant/flower like any other tropical plant. I don't like to use chemicals, but at this point I don't care anymore. I just want my plant/flower to survive another week and will use chemicals if that's the most sure-fire way to kill these thrips.
I have ongoing issues with thrips - they are difficult to eradicate. I have used neem oil and biological controls with some success but the best treatment I've found is insecticidal soap with pyrethrins.
looking closer at your pictures though, it doesn't look like thrip damage. Thrips are small but visible to the naked eye. Have you thoroughly inspected your plant for visible pests?
