What's eating my string of tears?

String of Tears (Curio herreanus) is a delicate trailing succulent houseplant. Mealybugs are the biggest threat, sheltering in the tight bead-like leaves and stem joints. Spider mites can colonise plants kept in hot, dry air. Fungus gnats appear only when the soil is kept too moist between waterings.

White waxy fluff at leaf nodes and along trailing stems; beads yellow and stems collapse in severe cases Dab every colony with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab; spray whole plant with diluted neem oil; repeat every 7 days

Tiny puncture scars on the bead-like leaves give a pale, dusty look; fine webbing between beads in heavy infestations Keep away from hot radiators; mist lightly; treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly

Gnats hovering at pot level; larvae eat fine feeder roots, causing sudden wilting of trailing stems Allow soil to dry completely between waterings (String of Tears prefers this anyway); use yellow sticky cards near the pot