Pest identification
What's eating my aerangis fastuosa?
Scale insects
Signs: Flat or raised waxy bumps on leaves and stems; yellowing leaf patches; sticky honeydew encouraging sooty mold
Control: Remove with an alcohol-dampened cotton swab; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray; repeat every 10 days for 3 cycles
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at leaf bases and where roots meet the mount; weakened plant, slow growth
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; check roots at next repotting
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale speckling across fleshy leaves; webbing in severe cases; leaves lose gloss and become dull
Control: Raise humidity to 60–70%; mist regularly; apply neem oil spray every 5–7 days
Keep aerangis fastuosa pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Aerangis fastuosa pests — FAQ
What is eating my aerangis fastuosa?
Aerangis fastuosa is a tiny Madagascan epiphyte prized for its fragrant white flowers, best grown mounted indoors or in a warm greenhouse. Scale insects are the primary pest on its small, thick leaves. Mealybugs hide at leaf bases and root junctions, and spider mites can appear if humidity drops below 50 percent.
How do I get rid of scale insects on aerangis fastuosa?
Flat or raised waxy bumps on leaves and stems; yellowing leaf patches; sticky honeydew encouraging sooty mold Remove with an alcohol-dampened cotton swab; apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray; repeat every 10 days for 3 cycles
How do I get rid of mealybugs on aerangis fastuosa?
White cottony clusters at leaf bases and where roots meet the mount; weakened plant, slow growth Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; check roots at next repotting
How do I get rid of spider mites on aerangis fastuosa?
Fine pale speckling across fleshy leaves; webbing in severe cases; leaves lose gloss and become dull Raise humidity to 60–70%; mist regularly; apply neem oil spray every 5–7 days