--- title: "Need help with sweetheart hoya I bought this cute little hoya 2 weeks…" description: "Need help with sweetheart hoya I bought this cute little hoya 2 weeks ago and the plant appeared fine and pest free. It is small sitting in a 4 inch nursery…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/QMy8Wq82nqyZlFZgzsdHtD" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Alegna" published: "2026-10-21T14:34:44.664863Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/zQDfh7dDcDnksM8cLDHGrKBzO0N0AkcP5P23BBw6aaA/Nd0sUVu4R3moe29yYTYWUg.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md) # Need help with sweetheart hoya I bought this cute little hoya 2 weeks… _Posted by Alegna on 2026-10-21_ Need help with sweetheart hoya I bought this cute little hoya 2 weeks ago and the plant appeared fine and pest free. It is small sitting in a 4 inch nursery pot. Luckily I always isolate new plants when I get them. Over the 2 weeks it has developed these lesions/scars and the white residue. I have not dealt with any pests before other than years ago I had one plant with spider mites. What do you think it is? How to treat? Planta AI said fungus but I don't agree. I have not watered it since the day I got it 2 weeks ago. ![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/zQDfh7dDcDnksM8cLDHGrKBzO0N0AkcP5P23BBw6aaA/Nd0sUVu4R3moe29yYTYWUg.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/zQDfh7dDcDnksM8cLDHGrKBzO0N0AkcP5P23BBw6aaA/nfsaBC_jTaq4HDCZOSX_xg.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/zQDfh7dDcDnksM8cLDHGrKBzO0N0AkcP5P23BBw6aaA/PEszhVBiQI6jow9-RYhyPA.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/zQDfh7dDcDnksM8cLDHGrKBzO0N0AkcP5P23BBw6aaA/HSszRCF4QdGA3RBw_iIQMw.webp?size=large) ## 8 comments ### Belle commented on 2026-10-21 OMG I have the save thing going on!! I guess it’s thrips!! I bought this from a seller on Amazon, it’s been on my wish list forever!! I was so disappointed when it arrived she just seemed sad and generally unwell, I saw she had a few black dots but didn’t think much of it, and I did the worst thing ever!! I have 40 plus plants 🌱 and have like 20 plants propagating, I bright this plant into my room and she has been quarantined, I repotted her in soil that is supposed to be really good for her. To make a long story short she’s been in my bathroom, I’ve been using the humidifier for her on a time schedule and grow lights as well, I have finessed her and she just got worse daily, the spots are everywhere, the leaves are paper like for the most part. I will never buy from this seller ever again!! I told her(well call her Ashley) from the jump this plant is sick, she looks horrible and when I pay a good amount of money I want joy I don’t want pests that very well could have infested who knows how many of my plant cuz I’m one of those ppl that if the plant is looking sad I’ll move it around to figure out where she’s the happiest, so my plants were close to her often. So I tell Ashley yeah this plant is sick and she’s infested with Thrips and now I’m gonna have to investigate my plants often!! So she’s been emailing me daily asking for pics and what I’ve treated her with and I’m thinking I have already told you what I wanted , the $ I don’t want another sick plant! I emailed her and said look bottom line I want my money refunded ASAP it should have already been well over since I let them know I was returning it two days after I received it. ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/K-d70M9b_XPCT9hPMjrrjAHzBFH7eifnAXd0q-_Fdu4/rpVPVqLtRIep_e1saJDmSQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/K-d70M9b_XPCT9hPMjrrjAHzBFH7eifnAXd0q-_Fdu4/gOkV6aRMQSyHzjWTCaBwdQ.webp?size=large) #### Alegna replied on 2026-10-21 ughh I am SO sorry! Thats traumatizing! To have all your plants at risk is horrible! I was wondering if it was thrips! I had 3 different AI's say 3 different things. Chatgpt said flat mites, Planta AI said fungus and Google AI said mealy bugs 😫 Since my plant is small Im gonna give it a good soaking and bath, wash every leaf and stem. Wipe everything thing down and completely repot. I might start with the rubbing alcohol/dish soap/water combination spray and spray and wipe down each leaf and see what happens. Thanks for the feedback. I hope your plant recovers and the others are spared 🙏 #### Belle replied on 2026-10-21 OMG Alenga I haven’t even looked up a thrips photo or info on them!! It was actually someone in one of the groups who diagnosed it!! What does this lady not understand about you sent me something that I didn’t order, you didn’t send me what is described by any means!! She said I’m the beginning sure no problem you could have another plant or your money refunded ASAP, I told her I can’t risk getting another pet infested plant and God willing my plants didn’t get any on them, so it’s going to be a tedious process looking through all my plants!! 😣 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/K-d70M9b_XPCT9hPMjrrjAHzBFH7eifnAXd0q-_Fdu4/qILZogHHSLq9b19HceaVWQ.webp?size=large) #### Belle replied on 2026-10-21 Oh so any ideas on where to put the plant? I’ve was thinking in a box outside, it really isn’t anything I’m up for the job of being the pest control person, if it was one of had a long time I would absolutely no questions asked about it is start asap!! Well thanks for letting me rant!! I just got so frustrated 😣 I needed that vent!! Oh yeah and if you think of what to do with the plant let me know!! I think it should go outside!! #### Alegna replied on 2026-10-21 Do you live in a warm climate? I think if you put it outside it has the potential to get worse and actually be exposed to more pests! Do you have any rooms with no plants? I feel like once you have an infected plant you have to isolate and treat to get hopefully get rid of the pests. Or call it a loss and throw it away (which is a step away from putting it outside) It sounds like you JUST purchased it? You should ask for a refund if thats the case ### Belle commented on 2026-10-21 Is the soil completely dried out? #### Alegna replied on 2026-10-21 yes it was. I think this kind of hoya only needs watering every 2 weeks? ### Orchid\_Mom commented on 2026-10-25 The white spots look like boisduval scale to me. --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_