What's eating my aechmea 'blue rain'?

Aechmea 'Blue Rain' is a tough bromeliad but scale insects are its most common indoor pest, clustering on the stiff, spine-edged leaves. Mealybugs and spider mites also appear, particularly on stressed plants. Fill the central cup with fresh water regularly and wipe the leaf surfaces to catch infestations early.

Crusty brown or white bumps on upper and lower leaf surfaces; honeydew deposits and yellowing between the scales. Scrape off with an old toothbrush; dab with isopropyl alcohol; apply horticultural oil and repeat every two weeks until clear.

White waxy tufts in the leaf axils and at the base of the cup; sticky honeydew and weakened foliage. Remove manually with alcohol-dipped cotton buds; spray foliage with neem oil solution weekly for a month.

Fine pale speckling on leaf surfaces and faint webbing, most visible in dry, heated indoor environments. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth, raise humidity, and apply insecticidal soap spray every five to seven days for three treatments.