Pest identification
What's eating my debbie graptoveria?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony fluff between leaves and at stem nodes; sticky honeydew and weakened, discoloured rosette.
Control: Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; spray neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves and isolate the plant.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on outer leaves; in severe cases leaves shrink and lose colour.
Control: Wipe leaves with a damp cloth; spray with insecticidal soap; avoid placing near hot, dry heating vents.
Root mealybugs
Signs: White waxy powder on roots; plant looks wilted or stunted even when watered correctly.
Control: Unpot the plant, rinse roots, soak in dilute neem solution, allow to dry, and repot in fresh compost.
Keep debbie graptoveria pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Debbie Graptoveria pests — FAQ
What is eating my debbie graptoveria?
Debbie Graptoveria's plump lavender-pink rosettes are most commonly targeted by mealybugs nestled in the leaf axils, and spider mites on the leaf surfaces in dry conditions. Root mealybugs can infest container roots undetected. Scale insects occasionally appear on stems. Check the rosette centre at every watering. Mealybugs are the worst pest.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on debbie graptoveria?
White cottony fluff between leaves and at stem nodes; sticky honeydew and weakened, discoloured rosette. Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; spray neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves and isolate the plant.
How do I get rid of spider mites on debbie graptoveria?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on outer leaves; in severe cases leaves shrink and lose colour. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth; spray with insecticidal soap; avoid placing near hot, dry heating vents.
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on debbie graptoveria?
White waxy powder on roots; plant looks wilted or stunted even when watered correctly. Unpot the plant, rinse roots, soak in dilute neem solution, allow to dry, and repot in fresh compost.