Pest identification
What's eating my vriesea 'astrid'?
Scale insects
Signs: Raised tan or brown bumps on leaf undersides and petioles; honeydew deposits and sooty mould on the foliage.
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft toothbrush; treat remaining insects with horticultural oil spray repeated every two weeks.
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white colonies in leaf axils and around the base of the flower spike; leaves become sticky and discoloured.
Control: Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab to each colony; follow with neem oil spray on all leaf surfaces weekly for a month.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale speckling and webbing on leaf undersides, particularly in low-humidity winter conditions.
Control: Mist the foliage, raise local humidity, and apply insecticidal soap spray three times at five-day intervals.
Keep vriesea 'astrid' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Vriesea 'Astrid' pests — FAQ
What is eating my vriesea 'astrid'?
Vriesea 'Astrid' is a feathered bromeliad grown indoors for its striking foliage and spike. Scale insects and mealybugs are the main threats, hiding in the central cup and leaf bases. Spider mites emerge in very dry air. Keep the cup topped with fresh water and wipe leaves regularly to stay ahead of any outbreak.
How do I get rid of scale insects on vriesea 'astrid'?
Raised tan or brown bumps on leaf undersides and petioles; honeydew deposits and sooty mould on the foliage. Scrape off manually with a soft toothbrush; treat remaining insects with horticultural oil spray repeated every two weeks.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on vriesea 'astrid'?
Fluffy white colonies in leaf axils and around the base of the flower spike; leaves become sticky and discoloured. Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab to each colony; follow with neem oil spray on all leaf surfaces weekly for a month.
How do I get rid of spider mites on vriesea 'astrid'?
Fine pale speckling and webbing on leaf undersides, particularly in low-humidity winter conditions. Mist the foliage, raise local humidity, and apply insecticidal soap spray three times at five-day intervals.