Pest identification
What's eating my dracaena deremensis dorado?
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or yellowish shell-like bumps on stems and the underside of the broad leaves; sticky honeydew drips onto lower leaves
Control: Scrape scales off manually; spray with horticultural oil solution every 10 days until clear, coating stems thoroughly
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white wax at leaf axils and growing tip; weakened new leaves that emerge small and distorted
Control: Dab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly for 3–4 weeks
Spider mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling across the bright lime-green leaves and thin webbing, especially near the central vein
Control: Shower the plant to knock mites off; apply insecticidal soap spray every 5–7 days for three consecutive treatments
Keep dracaena deremensis dorado pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dracaena Deremensis Dorado pests — FAQ
What is eating my dracaena deremensis dorado?
Dracaena deremensis 'Dorado' is a broad-leaved, lime-green cultivar prone to the typical Dracaena pests. Scale insects and mealybugs are the most common culprits, clustering at leaf bases and stem joints. Spider mites strike in dry conditions. Its large leaves make inspection straightforward — check undersides and stem nodes monthly.
How do I get rid of scale insects on dracaena deremensis dorado?
Brown or yellowish shell-like bumps on stems and the underside of the broad leaves; sticky honeydew drips onto lower leaves Scrape scales off manually; spray with horticultural oil solution every 10 days until clear, coating stems thoroughly
How do I get rid of mealybugs on dracaena deremensis dorado?
Fluffy white wax at leaf axils and growing tip; weakened new leaves that emerge small and distorted Dab colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly for 3–4 weeks
How do I get rid of spider mites on dracaena deremensis dorado?
Fine pale stippling across the bright lime-green leaves and thin webbing, especially near the central vein Shower the plant to knock mites off; apply insecticidal soap spray every 5–7 days for three consecutive treatments