Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'midnight magic'?
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling dulls the metallic leaf surface; webbing under leaves; leaves dry and curl at edges.
Control: Maintain humidity above 50%; rinse foliage regularly; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly.
Mealybugs
Signs: White wax clusters at leaf bases and along rhizomes; sticky honeydew and slow general decline.
Control: Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with neem oil; repeat until no new growth appears.
Thrips
Signs: Silvery-white scarring and tiny dark frass on the decorative leaf surface, reducing ornamental value.
Control: Remove damaged leaves; use spinosad spray; sticky blue traps help monitor and reduce adult populations.
Keep begonia 'midnight magic' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Begonia 'Midnight Magic' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'midnight magic'?
Rex begonia 'Midnight Magic' is grown purely indoors for its dramatic foliage. Spider mites are the primary pest in centrally heated homes. Mealybugs shelter in the textured leaf base and rhizome, thrips scar the metallic surface, and fungus gnats breed in moist compost. Low humidity dramatically worsens all pest pressure.
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia 'midnight magic'?
Fine pale stippling dulls the metallic leaf surface; webbing under leaves; leaves dry and curl at edges. Maintain humidity above 50%; rinse foliage regularly; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia 'midnight magic'?
White wax clusters at leaf bases and along rhizomes; sticky honeydew and slow general decline. Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; follow with neem oil; repeat until no new growth appears.
How do I get rid of thrips on begonia 'midnight magic'?
Silvery-white scarring and tiny dark frass on the decorative leaf surface, reducing ornamental value. Remove damaged leaves; use spinosad spray; sticky blue traps help monitor and reduce adult populations.