Pest identification
What's eating my black mondo grass?
Spider Mites
Signs: Pale flecking or stippling on the dark leaves; thin webbing at leaf bases in severe cases.
Control: Increase ambient humidity; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy cottony clusters at leaf junctions and base, causing wilting and yellowing.
Control: Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
Scale Insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps on stems and leaf bases; honeydew leads to sooty mould on the dark foliage.
Control: Remove manually; apply horticultural oil; repeat treatment every 2 weeks.
Keep black mondo grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Black Mondo Grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my black mondo grass?
Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') as a houseplant is susceptible to spider mites in low humidity and mealybugs tucked into the leaf bases. Scale can also appear. The dark foliage can make early detection harder, so inspect closely at the base of leaves regularly.
How do I get rid of spider mites on black mondo grass?
Pale flecking or stippling on the dark leaves; thin webbing at leaf bases in severe cases. Increase ambient humidity; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on black mondo grass?
White waxy cottony clusters at leaf junctions and base, causing wilting and yellowing. Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of scale insects on black mondo grass?
Hard brown bumps on stems and leaf bases; honeydew leads to sooty mould on the dark foliage. Remove manually; apply horticultural oil; repeat treatment every 2 weeks.