Tiny black specks on a Chinese money plant: why the leaf is yellowing
You describe tiny black specks on the leaf, and the photograph shows both dark spots and a leaf that has yellowed evenly. That determines whether to remove an old leaf or treat the whole plant promptly.
On your Chinese money plant, thrips are the best fit. They often leave small black specks while the leaf tissue becomes dull, yellow or silvery. The photograph shows a clearly yellowed leaf with several small dark specks, which fits pests better than natural ageing alone.
What to do now
- Remove the leaf if it is completely or almost completely yellow. It will not turn green again and can shelter pests.
- Isolate the plant from other houseplants immediately, as thrips spread readily.
- Rinse the entire plant thoroughly, especially leaf undersides and where leaf stalks meet the stem.
- Wipe the leaves afterwards and treat with a soap solution or insecticidal soap intended for houseplants. Repeat several times a few days apart, as more thrips hatch over time.
- Blue or yellow sticky traps near the plant can catch adults and help show whether the infestation continues.
In mid-September in Sweden, thrips often spread indoors where plants stand warm and dry by windows. Act promptly and follow up treatment for at least two to three weeks. Watch new leaves in particular: healthy growth without fresh black specks indicates the infestation has been brought under control.
View the case and dialogue – Case #102
The reader’s original question
What is eating my Chinese money plant?
Submitted
- Tomasgreen asked
- Have you seen small insects or webbing underneath the leaves or on new leaves?
- Why we asked
- This helps establish whether pests such as thrips or spider mites are likely to have caused the damage.
- The reader’s answer
- Yes
- Tomasgreen asked
- Is there anything else you would like to add in your own words?
- Why we asked
- Your own observations and experiences can help make the answer more specific.
- The reader’s answer
- Small black ones.
Sources and images 1
- Original reader contribution ↗Reader question