Why Your Plants Have Tiny White Spots
White spots on plants are powdery mildew, spider mites, or sunscald. Texture tells you which: powdery spreads, mites make webs, sunscald is papery.
Each cause has a different fix. Diagnose before treating.
The 3 Causes
| Cause | Texture | Location | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powdery mildew | Powdery, spreads | Leaf surface | Airflow, milk spray |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing | Underside | Water spray, humidity |
| Sunscald | Papery, bleached | Sun side | Move to shade |
Diagnosis
- Touch it. Powdery → mildew. Smooth → water spots. Papery → sunscald.
- Look for webs. Fine webbing → mites.
- Check location. Sun-facing → sunscald.
Fixes
Powdery mildew: Remove affected leaves. Improve airflow. Milk spray (1:9).
Spider mites: Water spray daily. Increase humidity. Neem oil.
Sunscald: Move to indirect light. Wait.
Common Questions
Are white spots harmful? Mildew yes. Sunscald cosmetic. Mites yes.
Can sunscald recover? Damaged leaves won’t. New leaves will.
Will mildew spread? Yes. Treat immediately.
Do spider mites bite? No.
Should I remove affected leaves? Mildew: yes. Mites: severe cases.
Does tap water cause spots? Mineral spots. Wipe off.