What's eating my aeschynanthus 'rasta'?

Aeschynanthus 'Rasta' is a curly-leafed lipstick plant whose tightly coiled foliage creates hidden crevices that mealybugs love — making it the most pest-prone Aeschynanthus cultivar. Spider mites exploit low humidity. Aphids target new growth. Inspect deep inside the curled leaves regularly; the unusual leaf shape makes pests easy to miss.

White cottony wax inside curled leaves and at stem nodes; difficult to spot early; plant yellows and growth stalls Use a cotton swab with 70% isopropyl alcohol to reach inside curls; follow with a neem oil spray; repeat weekly; persistent cases may need systemic imidacloprid drench

Silvery speckling and fine webbing; easier to spot on the flatter outer surfaces; leaf tips may dry out Raise humidity; rinse foliage with water; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days

Clusters on new unfurling shoot tips; distorted growth and sticky residue Rinse off with water; treat with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until absent