Pest identification
What's eating my euphorbia bubalina?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony wax at stem axils and branch forks; yellowing leaves and sticky deposits.
Control: Dab visible colonies with isopropyl alcohol; spray plant thoroughly with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
Scale insects
Signs: Small brown waxy shields adhered to older woody stems; bark discolouration and weakened branches.
Control: Scrub off with a toothbrush in soapy water; apply horticultural oil; retreat every two weeks for two months.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing visible in dry heated-room conditions.
Control: Raise humidity, rinse foliage, and apply a miticide or neem oil spray; repeat every 7 days for three cycles.
Keep euphorbia bubalina pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Euphorbia bubalina pests — FAQ
What is eating my euphorbia bubalina?
Euphorbia bubalina, a multi-stemmed shrubby South African Euphorbia grown as a houseplant, is most often troubled by mealybugs at stem joints and branch forks. Scale insects colonise woody stems. Spider mites strike during dry winter periods. The milky latex makes it unpalatable to most chewing insects and animals.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on euphorbia bubalina?
White cottony wax at stem axils and branch forks; yellowing leaves and sticky deposits. Dab visible colonies with isopropyl alcohol; spray plant thoroughly with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of scale insects on euphorbia bubalina?
Small brown waxy shields adhered to older woody stems; bark discolouration and weakened branches. Scrub off with a toothbrush in soapy water; apply horticultural oil; retreat every two weeks for two months.
How do I get rid of spider mites on euphorbia bubalina?
Pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing visible in dry heated-room conditions. Raise humidity, rinse foliage, and apply a miticide or neem oil spray; repeat every 7 days for three cycles.