Pest identification
What's eating my string of buttons?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters in leaf axils and along stems; leaves yellow and shrivel
Control: Dab colonies with a cotton swab soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray weekly for a month
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan bumps on stems; sticky honeydew residue on lower leaves
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft toothbrush, then treat with insecticidal soap solution fortnightly
Root mealybugs
Signs: Unexplained wilting and slow decline despite correct watering; white waxy deposits visible on roots at repotting
Control: Unpot, wash roots under running water, drench with diluted neem oil or imidacloprid, repot in fresh gritty mix
Keep string of buttons pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
String of Buttons pests — FAQ
What is eating my string of buttons?
String of Buttons is most threatened by mealybugs, which colonise the tight leaf stacks where spray contact is poor. Scale insects and root mealybugs also occur. Spider mites may appear in hot, dry rooms. Inspect leaf axils closely at every watering and isolate new plants for two weeks before placing them near others.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on string of buttons?
White cottony clusters in leaf axils and along stems; leaves yellow and shrivel Dab colonies with a cotton swab soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol; follow up with neem oil spray weekly for a month
How do I get rid of scale insects on string of buttons?
Brown or tan bumps on stems; sticky honeydew residue on lower leaves Scrape off manually with a soft toothbrush, then treat with insecticidal soap solution fortnightly
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on string of buttons?
Unexplained wilting and slow decline despite correct watering; white waxy deposits visible on roots at repotting Unpot, wash roots under running water, drench with diluted neem oil or imidacloprid, repot in fresh gritty mix