What's eating my eternal flame plant?

Eternal Flame Plant is most susceptible to spider mites, which dull its lustrous foliage and impair flowering. Thrips and mealybugs can also strike, hiding at the base of the dramatic orange blooms. Fungus gnats exploit the moist, peat-rich compost this plant prefers. Humidity above 60% is the key deterrent.

Yellow stippling on leaves, bronzed appearance, reduced vigour and fewer blooms Mist foliage and use a pebble tray for humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil weekly

Silver streaks across leaves and flower bracts; tiny insects visible with a hand lens Remove infested flowers and leaves; apply spinosad or insecticidal soap; use blue sticky traps

White cottony fluff at petiole bases and inside flower bracts; sticky honeydew Treat with isopropyl alcohol swabs; spray plant thoroughly with neem oil

Larvae in moist potting mix damage roots; adults emerge and hover around plant Allow the top 2 cm of soil to dry; use Bti soil drench; add yellow sticky traps