Pest identification
What's eating my earth star?
Scale insects
Signs: Small brown waxy bumps on the undersides of the patterned, starfish-shaped leaves; honeydew and sooty mould.
Control: Wipe with a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray to both leaf surfaces; repeat every two weeks until clear.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits tucked at the base of the rosette where leaves meet the potting medium; leaves turn yellow.
Control: Apply isopropyl alcohol with a swab to every visible colony; follow with neem oil spray and improve airflow around the plant.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Tiny black flies near the soil; larvae tunnel through fine roots in the moist medium surrounding the low-growing rosette.
Control: Allow the top layer of substrate to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; drench soil with a Bti-based biological product.
Keep earth star pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Earth Star pests — FAQ
What is eating my earth star?
Earth Star (Cryptanthus bivittatus) is a low-growing bromeliad that sits at soil level, making it slightly more exposed to fungus gnats than taller bromeliads. Scale insects and mealybugs are the main foliar pests. Its star-shaped rosette hides pests at the base — lift the plant occasionally to check the underside of the outer leaves.
How do I get rid of scale insects on earth star?
Small brown waxy bumps on the undersides of the patterned, starfish-shaped leaves; honeydew and sooty mould. Wipe with a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray to both leaf surfaces; repeat every two weeks until clear.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on earth star?
White cottony deposits tucked at the base of the rosette where leaves meet the potting medium; leaves turn yellow. Apply isopropyl alcohol with a swab to every visible colony; follow with neem oil spray and improve airflow around the plant.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on earth star?
Tiny black flies near the soil; larvae tunnel through fine roots in the moist medium surrounding the low-growing rosette. Allow the top layer of substrate to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; drench soil with a Bti-based biological product.