What's eating my aloe castillon?

Aloe castilloniae is an uncommon, compact aloe from Madagascar rarely troubled by pests when kept in bright, dry conditions. Mealybugs are the most likely problem, hiding in the leaf axils. Scale insects may colonise stems. Avoid overly humid or poorly ventilated spots — this is a dry-habitat species that dislikes damp air.

White fluffy colonies in leaf axils and at the rosette centre; sticky honeydew may appear. Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; follow up with weekly neem oil spray until the problem clears.

Small waxy bumps on stems and leaf surfaces; can cause localised yellowing. Scrape off manually then treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil on a 10–14 day schedule.