What's eating my cryptanthus 'black mystic'?

Cryptanthus 'Black Mystic' has dark, richly pigmented foliage that makes pests harder to spot at a glance. Mealybugs are the most common threat, hiding in the tight rosette, while scale and spider mites also occur in dry rooms. Inspect under leaves monthly and check the leaf bases with a torch for early detection.

White cottony clusters concealed in the rosette centre; slow growth and dull, faded leaf color. Probe between leaves with an alcohol swab; follow with weekly neem oil spray until all signs disappear.

Hard brown bumps on the dark leaf surfaces, easy to overlook; honeydew deposits and sooty mold. Scrape off with a toothpick; dab the site with isopropyl alcohol and check again after two weeks.

Tiny pale speckling on upper leaf surfaces; fine silk webbing at leaf tips in hot, low-humidity conditions. Boost humidity around the plant; rinse thoroughly; apply insecticidal soap spray every 5–7 days for three treatments.