What's eating my cryptanthus bromelioides?

Cryptanthus bromelioides, the earth star bromeliad, sits low to the ground and is particularly prone to mealybugs nesting between its tightly stacked leaves. Scale insects and spider mites can also attack in dry indoor air. Check between leaf layers regularly and treat early, as the rosette shape makes deep infestations hard to reach.

White waxy residue deep between the leaf rosette; overall plant stunting and yellowing from sap feeding. Use a cotton swab or small brush dipped in isopropyl alcohol to reach between leaves; follow with a neem oil spray.

Flat brown bumps on leaf surfaces and undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mold on leaf faces. Scrape off with a toothpick or soft brush; wipe down with an alcohol-dampened cloth and monitor fortnightly.

Fine stippling and bronze discoloration across the decorative leaf surfaces; webbing in severe, dry conditions. Raise humidity around the plant; rinse the rosette gently; apply insecticidal soap every 5–7 days for three cycles.