Pest identification
What's eating my african violet?
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy wax at leaf bases and in the crown; leaves distort; plant weakens and stops flowering.
Control: Remove with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; treat with insecticidal soap solution; isolate the plant immediately to prevent spread.
Cyclamen mites
Signs: New leaves curl tightly and appear stunted, brittle, or bronze-grey; flower buds may abort — virtually invisible to the naked eye.
Control: Discard heavily infested plants; for light infestations immerse the plant in 43 °C (110 °F) water for 15 minutes; keep humidity moderate and avoid contact with infested plants.
Thrips
Signs: Petals streaked, silvery-scarred, or distorted; tiny black frass specs visible on flowers; pollen spread messily.
Control: Remove and bin affected blooms; apply spinosad-based spray or insecticidal soap to plant and soil surface; use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae feed on fine roots and crown tissue causing wilting; adults are a nuisance around windows.
Control: Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench; set yellow sticky traps near the pot.
Keep african violet pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
African violet pests — FAQ
What is eating my african violet?
African violets are most troubled by mealybugs and cyclamen mites indoors. Thrips can disfigure flowers, and fungus gnats breed in perpetually moist soil. Their dense, fuzzy leaves make pests easy to miss — inspect leaf undersides and the crown monthly. Avoid overhead watering to reduce conditions that favour mite outbreaks.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on african violet?
White fluffy wax at leaf bases and in the crown; leaves distort; plant weakens and stops flowering. Remove with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; treat with insecticidal soap solution; isolate the plant immediately to prevent spread.
How do I get rid of cyclamen mites on african violet?
New leaves curl tightly and appear stunted, brittle, or bronze-grey; flower buds may abort — virtually invisible to the naked eye. Discard heavily infested plants; for light infestations immerse the plant in 43 °C (110 °F) water for 15 minutes; keep humidity moderate and avoid contact with infested plants.
How do I get rid of thrips on african violet?
Petals streaked, silvery-scarred, or distorted; tiny black frass specs visible on flowers; pollen spread messily. Remove and bin affected blooms; apply spinosad-based spray or insecticidal soap to plant and soil surface; use blue sticky traps to monitor adults.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on african violet?
Larvae feed on fine roots and crown tissue causing wilting; adults are a nuisance around windows. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench; set yellow sticky traps near the pot.