Pest identification
What's eating my begonia dichroa?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at cane nodes and leaf bases; honeydew, ants, and reduced flowering
Control: Remove with alcohol swabs; spray entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap and repeat weekly
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on upper leaf surface; webbing on undersides; dull, washed-out foliage colour
Control: Rinse plant, improve humidity, and apply neem oil or insecticidal soap on a 5–7 day schedule
Whiteflies
Signs: Cloud of tiny white insects when plant is disturbed; yellowing leaves and sticky honeydew below
Control: Hang yellow sticky traps to reduce adult numbers; spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap repeatedly
Keep begonia dichroa pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia dichroa pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia dichroa?
Begonia dichroa, a cane-type species with bright orange flowers, shares the same indoor pest profile as other cane begonias. Mealybugs at stem joints are the most frequent problem, with spider mites and occasional whitefly on leaf undersides. Inspect every 1–2 weeks during active growth and treat early with neem oil.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia dichroa?
White cottony clusters at cane nodes and leaf bases; honeydew, ants, and reduced flowering Remove with alcohol swabs; spray entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap and repeat weekly
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia dichroa?
Pale stippling on upper leaf surface; webbing on undersides; dull, washed-out foliage colour Rinse plant, improve humidity, and apply neem oil or insecticidal soap on a 5–7 day schedule
How do I get rid of whiteflies on begonia dichroa?
Cloud of tiny white insects when plant is disturbed; yellowing leaves and sticky honeydew below Hang yellow sticky traps to reduce adult numbers; spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap repeatedly