What's eating my dragon tree colorama?

Dragon Tree Colorama is most commonly attacked by spider mites, which thrive in the dry indoor air it prefers. Mealybugs and scale insects also target it, hiding along leaf bases and cane joints. Thrips can streak the colorful foliage. Catch infestations early by inspecting the vivid pink-and-red leaf margins where pests congregate.

Fine webbing on leaf undersides; foliage develops pale, stippled speckling that dulls the pink-red variegation Raise humidity around the plant; wipe leaves with a damp cloth, then spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every 5–7 days for 3 weeks

White cottony clusters at leaf axils and along the stem; leaves yellow and growth stalls Dab individual colonies with a rubbing-alcohol-soaked cotton swab; follow up with neem oil spray; repeat weekly until clear

Brown or tan waxy bumps on canes and leaf midribs; sticky honeydew leads to sooty mold Scrape off with a soft toothbrush, treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a swab, then apply horticultural oil spray

Silver-streaked or papery patches on leaves; tiny dark droppings visible on foliage; distorted new growth Isolate the plant; remove heavily damaged leaves; apply spinosad-based or insecticidal soap spray weekly for a month