Pest identification
What's eating my bromeliad?
Scale insects (brown soft scale / armored scale)
Signs: Brown or tan bumps on leaf bases and undersides; yellowing; honeydew and black sooty mould visible on lower leaves
Control: Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; flush the central cup and wipe leaf bases with diluted rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil; repeat after 14 days
Mealybugs (Pseudococcus spp.)
Signs: White cottony wax tucked between leaf bases and inside the cup; stunted growth; cup may fill with frass
Control: Flush the cup with water; apply insecticidal soap solution into the cup and over the leaf bases; repeat every 7–10 days
Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.)
Signs: Adults hover around the plant; larvae damage roots or breed in standing water in the cup
Control: Change the water in the central cup weekly; let potting medium dry slightly between waterings; use Bti drench; yellow sticky traps
Keep bromeliad pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Bromeliad pests — FAQ
What is eating my bromeliad?
Bromeliads are prone to scale insects and mealybugs, which hide deep in the central cup and between tightly packed leaf bases. Scale is the number one indoor pest. Fungus gnats can breed in the moist cup or potting medium. Spider mites attack in very low humidity but are less common than on other tropicals.
How do I get rid of scale insects (brown soft scale / armored scale) on bromeliad?
Brown or tan bumps on leaf bases and undersides; yellowing; honeydew and black sooty mould visible on lower leaves Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; flush the central cup and wipe leaf bases with diluted rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil; repeat after 14 days
How do I get rid of mealybugs (pseudococcus spp.) on bromeliad?
White cottony wax tucked between leaf bases and inside the cup; stunted growth; cup may fill with frass Flush the cup with water; apply insecticidal soap solution into the cup and over the leaf bases; repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of fungus gnats (bradysia spp.) on bromeliad?
Adults hover around the plant; larvae damage roots or breed in standing water in the cup Change the water in the central cup weekly; let potting medium dry slightly between waterings; use Bti drench; yellow sticky traps