What's eating my dragon's tongue?

Dragon's tongue (Hemigraphis repanda) is a low-growing tropical groundcover susceptible to spider mites in dry indoor air and fungus gnats when soil stays too wet. Mealybugs may also colonise the dense foliage. Maintain moderate humidity, allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings, and inspect leaf undersides often.

Pale stippling on the metallic purple-green leaves; fine webbing; leaves lose their sheen and may yellow Mist foliage and raise humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray to all leaf surfaces weekly

Tiny black flies around soil; larvae chew fine roots, causing wilting and poor growth in young plants Allow topsoil to dry between waterings; apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) drench or yellow sticky traps

White cottony deposits at leaf junctions and growing tips; sticky honeydew; stunted new growth Swab colonies with isopropyl alcohol; spray entire plant with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly for three weeks