Pest identification
What's eating my blushing bromeliad?
Scale insects
Signs: Small hard bumps on the colourful outer leaves and midrib; yellowing of affected leaves and a sticky sheen.
Control: Remove with a damp cloth or old toothbrush; apply horticultural oil or neem solution to all leaf surfaces; repeat fortnightly.
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly patches in the central cup and between leaf bases; honeydew makes the rosette feel tacky.
Control: Swab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray neem oil weekly for four weeks; flush the cup with clean water and refill.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Small black flies hovering at soil level; larvae damage fine roots in the potting mix, causing wilting.
Control: Let the potting medium dry out slightly between waterings; apply a biological drench (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to the substrate; use yellow sticky traps.
Keep blushing bromeliad pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats blushing bromeliad — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats blushing bromeliad — our other guide for the same plant
- PictureThis alternatives — 7 plant ID apps compared
- Common blushing bromeliad problems & fixes
- Blushing Bromeliad watering schedule
- Blushing Bromeliad light requirements
- Full blushing bromeliad care guide
Blushing Bromeliad pests — FAQ
What is eating my blushing bromeliad?
Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae 'Tricolor') is a showpiece houseplant whose vivid rosette can harbour scale insects and mealybugs at the leaf bases and in the central cup. Fungus gnats may breed in moist potting mix. Filling the cup with clean, fresh water and allowing the potting mix to partially dry prevents most problems.
How do I get rid of scale insects on blushing bromeliad?
Small hard bumps on the colourful outer leaves and midrib; yellowing of affected leaves and a sticky sheen. Remove with a damp cloth or old toothbrush; apply horticultural oil or neem solution to all leaf surfaces; repeat fortnightly.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on blushing bromeliad?
White woolly patches in the central cup and between leaf bases; honeydew makes the rosette feel tacky. Swab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray neem oil weekly for four weeks; flush the cup with clean water and refill.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on blushing bromeliad?
Small black flies hovering at soil level; larvae damage fine roots in the potting mix, causing wilting. Let the potting medium dry out slightly between waterings; apply a biological drench (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to the substrate; use yellow sticky traps.