Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'emerald giant'?
Spider mites
Signs: Widespread pale stippling across the broad leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides; leaves may bronze.
Control: Raise humidity, rinse undersides with water, then spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony masses in leaf axils and on rhizomes; sticky residue and sooty mold.
Control: Dab with isopropyl alcohol swabs; follow with neem oil spray on a weekly schedule until clear.
Thrips
Signs: Silvery scarring and distortion on large emerging leaves; flowers may also be damaged.
Control: Remove affected leaves; apply spinosad-based spray or insecticidal soap and use blue sticky traps.
Keep begonia 'emerald giant' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia 'Emerald Giant' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'emerald giant'?
Begonia rex 'Emerald Giant', an indoor rex begonia with large bold leaves, gives mealybugs and spider mites plenty of real estate to colonize. Its sizable leaf area shows spider mite stippling clearly. Thrips can scar and distort the large new leaves. Frequent underside inspections and stable humidity prevent the worst damage.
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia 'emerald giant'?
Widespread pale stippling across the broad leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides; leaves may bronze. Raise humidity, rinse undersides with water, then spray insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia 'emerald giant'?
White cottony masses in leaf axils and on rhizomes; sticky residue and sooty mold. Dab with isopropyl alcohol swabs; follow with neem oil spray on a weekly schedule until clear.
How do I get rid of thrips on begonia 'emerald giant'?
Silvery scarring and distortion on large emerging leaves; flowers may also be damaged. Remove affected leaves; apply spinosad-based spray or insecticidal soap and use blue sticky traps.