What's eating my cyclamen?

Cyclamen are particularly vulnerable to vine weevil grubs, which destroy corms from below with no warning, and to cyclamen mite — a near-invisible pest that distorts leaves and flowers. Mealybugs and aphids also occur. Cool, well-ventilated conditions reduce most pest pressure. Inspect roots at repotting.

Plant collapses suddenly; white C-shaped grubs found eating the corm and roots when the pot is emptied. Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/autumn; use pots without drainage-hole notches that adults can climb.

Severely distorted, cupped, and stunted new leaves; flowers deformed or fail to open; no visible insects (mites are microscopic). Discard heavily infested plants; for mild cases, raise humidity and apply an acaricide or predatory mite (Neoseiulus cucumeris); never mist the crown.

Soft colonies on flower stalks and undersides of young leaves; honeydew and sooty mould follow. Knock off with a strong water spray; treat with insecticidal soap; yellow sticky traps nearby help monitor.

White cottony wax in corm crevices and petiole bases; affected plants grow poorly. Dab with alcohol-soaked swab; remove affected tissue; drench with diluted neem oil.