Pest identification
What's eating my begonia 'silver limbo'?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale speckling and bronzing across the silver leaf surface; fine webbing under leaves in dry conditions.
Control: Boost humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every week.
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy masses in deep leaf sinuses and along rhizomes; honeydew causes sooty mold on silver leaves.
Control: Use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to remove colonies; follow with repeated neem oil treatments.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae damage roots in wet compost; adult gnats are a nuisance and signal overwatering.
Control: Allow the top inch of compost to dry; apply a Bti drench; trap adults with yellow sticky cards.
Keep begonia 'silver limbo' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats rex begonia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats begonia 'silver limbo' — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common begonia 'silver limbo' problems & fixes
- Begonia 'Silver Limbo' watering schedule
- Begonia 'Silver Limbo' light requirements
- Full begonia 'silver limbo' care guide
Begonia 'Silver Limbo' pests — FAQ
What is eating my begonia 'silver limbo'?
Rex begonia 'Silver Limbo' is an indoor foliage plant whose silvery leaf surface makes pest damage especially visible. Spider mites cause tell-tale stippling, mealybugs hide in the leaf sinuses and rhizome joints, and thrips leave silver streak marks across the decorative surface. Fungus gnats breed in overly wet compost.
How do I get rid of spider mites on begonia 'silver limbo'?
Pale speckling and bronzing across the silver leaf surface; fine webbing under leaves in dry conditions. Boost humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every week.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on begonia 'silver limbo'?
White fluffy masses in deep leaf sinuses and along rhizomes; honeydew causes sooty mold on silver leaves. Use an alcohol-dipped cotton swab to remove colonies; follow with repeated neem oil treatments.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on begonia 'silver limbo'?
Larvae damage roots in wet compost; adult gnats are a nuisance and signal overwatering. Allow the top inch of compost to dry; apply a Bti drench; trap adults with yellow sticky cards.