What's eating my aloinopsis schooneesii?

Aloinopsis schooneesii, grown for its daisy-like winter flowers, is susceptible to mealybugs and root mealybugs — the most damaging indoor pests for this mesemb. Spider mites can colonize it in dry heated rooms. Keeping it dry and bright significantly reduces pest pressure across the board.

Cottony white deposits on stems or in leaf axils; subterranean root form causes gradual wilting and visible white wax on roots and inside the pot. Remove aerial mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol swabs. If root mealybugs are suspected, unpot, rinse and dry roots, repot into sterile compost. Use imidacloprid systemic granules for persistent cases.

Tiny webs across leaves and a stippled, silvery or bronze discolouration of the leaf surface, worst in winter indoors. Spray thoroughly with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat every 5–7 days for three to four treatments. Boost room humidity slightly to deter re-infestation.

Adult gnats fly around the soil surface; larvae in overly moist compost damage fine roots, stunting growth. Improve drainage and allow compost to dry between waterings. Top-dress with coarse grit. Use yellow sticky traps and a Bti soil drench to break the life cycle.