What's eating my dyckia brevifolia?

Dyckia brevifolia, a spiny terrestrial bromeliad kept indoors or in a frost-free greenhouse, is most commonly troubled by mealybugs sheltering between its stiff rosette leaves. Scale insects also appear on stems. Its succulent-like toughness deters most pests, but the dense, spiny clumps create ideal hiding spots for sap-suckers.

White waxy fluff between leaf bases and at root zone; slow growth and leaf yellowing Remove with alcohol-tipped swab; apply neem oil drench to the entire rosette base; repeat every 10 days for a month

Hard or soft bumps on leaves and stems; sticky residue and sooty mold Scrape off with a soft brush, then wipe with isopropyl alcohol; treat persistent infestations with systemic insecticide if potted indoors

Stunted growth, wilting despite adequate watering; white wax visible on roots when repotting Unpot, wash roots, discard infested soil, repot in fresh gritty mix; drench roots with diluted neem or imidacloprid solution