Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'fedor'?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy fluff at rhizome nodes and petiole bases; plant growth stalls and leaves yellow.
Control: Dab infested areas with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 7 days.
Spider mites
Signs: Stippled pale patches on leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides in low-humidity environments.
Control: Raise humidity to 50%+; spray insecticidal soap on undersides on a weekly schedule for 3 weeks.
Thrips
Signs: Silvery streaking and puckering of emerging leaves; flowers and buds may be scarred.
Control: Remove damaged foliage; spray spinosad or insecticidal soap and deploy blue sticky traps.
Keep begonia 'fedor' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia 'Fedor' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'fedor'?
Begonia rex 'Fedor', a houseplant rex cultivar, is most consistently attacked by mealybugs hiding in rhizome nodes and leaf petioles. Spider mites colonize the leaf undersides during dry spells. Thrips occasionally bronze and distort new foliage. Quarantine new begonias for two weeks before placing near 'Fedor' to prevent introductions.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia 'fedor'?
White waxy fluff at rhizome nodes and petiole bases; plant growth stalls and leaves yellow. Dab infested areas with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray every 7 days.
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia 'fedor'?
Stippled pale patches on leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides in low-humidity environments. Raise humidity to 50%+; spray insecticidal soap on undersides on a weekly schedule for 3 weeks.
How do I get rid of thrips on begonia 'fedor'?
Silvery streaking and puckering of emerging leaves; flowers and buds may be scarred. Remove damaged foliage; spray spinosad or insecticidal soap and deploy blue sticky traps.