Pest identification
What's eating my gryphon begonia?
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white deposits at leaf joints and on petioles; honeydew drips onto lower leaves
Control: Wipe off with alcohol-tipped swab; follow up with neem oil spray on all stem and leaf surfaces
Whitefly
Signs: Clouds of tiny white insects fly up when plant is disturbed; sticky leaves, pale patches, reduced vigour
Control: Use yellow sticky traps, apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray early morning; repeat every 5 days
Vine weevil
Signs: Notched leaf margins from adults; larvae eat roots causing sudden wilting (particularly when Gryphon is pot-grown outdoors in summer)
Control: Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer/autumn; check root zone if wilting is unexplained
Keep gryphon begonia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Gryphon Begonia pests — FAQ
What is eating my gryphon begonia?
Begonia 'Gryphon' is a vigorous hybrid cane-type begonia commonly grown as a houseplant or patio plant. It has good pest resistance for a begonia, but mealybugs and whitefly can still be problems, especially when plants are kept in warm interiors with limited airflow. Inspect where leaves meet stems.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on gryphon begonia?
Fluffy white deposits at leaf joints and on petioles; honeydew drips onto lower leaves Wipe off with alcohol-tipped swab; follow up with neem oil spray on all stem and leaf surfaces
How do I get rid of whitefly on gryphon begonia?
Clouds of tiny white insects fly up when plant is disturbed; sticky leaves, pale patches, reduced vigour Use yellow sticky traps, apply insecticidal soap or pyrethrin spray early morning; repeat every 5 days
How do I get rid of vine weevil on gryphon begonia?
Notched leaf margins from adults; larvae eat roots causing sudden wilting (particularly when Gryphon is pot-grown outdoors in summer) Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer/autumn; check root zone if wilting is unexplained