What's eating my euphorbia clavarioides?

Euphorbia clavarioides, the coral euphorbia, forms low, branching coral-like clumps that harbour mealybugs between stems. Its dense habit makes detection tricky — inspect by parting the cluster. Spider mites appear in dry air. Root mealybugs can attack if the plant sits in damp soil for too long.

White fluffy wax tucked deep between the branching coral-like stems; outer stems may yellow and wilt. Part the cluster and treat visible colonies with 70% isopropyl alcohol; drench with diluted neem solution and repeat in 10 days.

Fine webbing and pale stippling on individual stem tips; overall plant looks dusty and dull. Raise humidity around the plant and spray with insecticidal soap weekly until resolved.

Plant looks limp despite normal watering; white waxy powder on roots found during repotting. Bare-root, remove soil, treat roots with neem drench, allow several days to dry, then repot in mineral-rich gritty mix.