Pest identification
What's eating my aloe vanbalenii?
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white deposits at leaf bases and junctions; yellowing and soft, wrinkled leaves from sap loss
Control: Isolate plant; treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with weekly neem oil spray for 3–4 weeks
Scale insects
Signs: Flat or rounded hard bumps on leaf surfaces; reduced vigour; sticky, shiny residue on leaves below infestation
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush; apply neem oil or horticultural oil thoroughly; repeat applications every 10 days
Spider mites
Signs: Pale speckling and fine webbing on leaves; worst in hot, dry indoor environments
Control: Raise humidity around the plant; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil solution, focusing on leaf undersides; repeat weekly
Keep aloe vanbalenii pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Aloe Vanbalenii pests — FAQ
What is eating my aloe vanbalenii?
Aloe vanbalenii (fan aloe) kept indoors is most troubled by mealybugs and scale insects, both common on succulent aloes in low-humidity indoor conditions. Spider mites can also attack, especially in dry rooms. Its spreading rosette gives pests plenty of sheltered leaf axils to colonise undetected.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on aloe vanbalenii?
Cottony white deposits at leaf bases and junctions; yellowing and soft, wrinkled leaves from sap loss Isolate plant; treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with weekly neem oil spray for 3–4 weeks
How do I get rid of scale insects on aloe vanbalenii?
Flat or rounded hard bumps on leaf surfaces; reduced vigour; sticky, shiny residue on leaves below infestation Scrape off with a soft brush; apply neem oil or horticultural oil thoroughly; repeat applications every 10 days
How do I get rid of spider mites on aloe vanbalenii?
Pale speckling and fine webbing on leaves; worst in hot, dry indoor environments Raise humidity around the plant; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil solution, focusing on leaf undersides; repeat weekly