Pest identification
What's eating my bloodleaf plant?
Aphids
Signs: Small soft insects crowding new growth and shoot tips; curling or puckered young leaves; sticky honeydew on stems.
Control: Blast off with a strong jet of water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to all leaf surfaces and stems; repeat every five to seven days for two to three cycles.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale yellow speckles (stippling) on the vivid leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides; leaf colour dulls noticeably.
Control: Rinse the plant in the shower and increase humidity. Treat with insecticidal soap spray, covering undersides thoroughly. Repeat weekly until stippling stops progressing.
Whiteflies
Signs: Tiny white winged insects on leaf undersides; yellowing foliage; sticky residue and black sooty mould on leaves.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps to capture adults. Spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly, and ensure good airflow around the plant.
Keep bloodleaf plant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Bloodleaf Plant pests — FAQ
What is eating my bloodleaf plant?
Bloodleaf Plant's vivid red and crimson foliage is targeted by aphids on its soft stems and by spider mites in dry indoor air. Whiteflies can also build up quickly. The bright foliage makes pest damage — yellowing, stippling, and distortion — easy to spot early, so regular inspection allows prompt treatment with insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of aphids on bloodleaf plant?
Small soft insects crowding new growth and shoot tips; curling or puckered young leaves; sticky honeydew on stems. Blast off with a strong jet of water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to all leaf surfaces and stems; repeat every five to seven days for two to three cycles.
How do I get rid of spider mites on bloodleaf plant?
Pale yellow speckles (stippling) on the vivid leaf surface; fine webbing on undersides; leaf colour dulls noticeably. Rinse the plant in the shower and increase humidity. Treat with insecticidal soap spray, covering undersides thoroughly. Repeat weekly until stippling stops progressing.
How do I get rid of whiteflies on bloodleaf plant?
Tiny white winged insects on leaf undersides; yellowing foliage; sticky residue and black sooty mould on leaves. Use yellow sticky traps to capture adults. Spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly, and ensure good airflow around the plant.