Pest identification
What's eating my dyckia fosteriana?
Mealybugs
Signs: White powdery wax packed between serrated leaf bases; plants lose vigour and leaves take on a pale cast
Control: Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab directly to colonies; follow with neem oil drench at the rosette base every 10 days
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown lumps on stems and undersides of leaves; sticky honeydew residue
Control: Scrape off with a toothpick or old toothbrush; wipe with alcohol, then treat with neem oil
Root mealybugs
Signs: Unexplained wilting; white filaments on roots revealed when plant is removed from pot
Control: Remove from pot, rinse roots under running water, repot in fresh mineral-based mix, drench with systemic insecticide
Keep dyckia fosteriana pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Dyckia fosteriana pests — FAQ
What is eating my dyckia fosteriana?
Dyckia fosteriana, a compact spiny bromeliad grown indoors or in a heated greenhouse, is most at risk from mealybugs hiding in its tightly packed rosette. Scale insects also occasionally colonise the stems. Its fibrous root system can attract root mealybugs if drainage is poor. Routine inspection of leaf bases keeps infestations manageable.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on dyckia fosteriana?
White powdery wax packed between serrated leaf bases; plants lose vigour and leaves take on a pale cast Apply isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab directly to colonies; follow with neem oil drench at the rosette base every 10 days
How do I get rid of scale insects on dyckia fosteriana?
Hard brown lumps on stems and undersides of leaves; sticky honeydew residue Scrape off with a toothpick or old toothbrush; wipe with alcohol, then treat with neem oil
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on dyckia fosteriana?
Unexplained wilting; white filaments on roots revealed when plant is removed from pot Remove from pot, rinse roots under running water, repot in fresh mineral-based mix, drench with systemic insecticide