Pest identification
What's eating my euphorbia enopla?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony tufts at the base of the red spines and in the ribbed valleys; sticky residue attracts sooty mould.
Control: Remove with an alcohol-soaked fine brush; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray and repeat after 10 days.
Spider mites
Signs: Dusty, pale stippling across the green stem surface; webbing visible in rib grooves under bright light.
Control: Rinse stem carefully avoiding wetting the soil excessively; apply insecticidal soap spray weekly for three rounds.
Keep euphorbia enopla pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Euphorbia enopla pests — FAQ
What is eating my euphorbia enopla?
Euphorbia enopla, the red-spined pincushion euphorbia, is compact and columnar with prominent red spines. Indoors it is mostly troubled by mealybugs at the spine bases and in rib valleys. Spider mites occasionally colonise the stem surface in low humidity. Its toxic latex provides moderate pest deterrence.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on euphorbia enopla?
White cottony tufts at the base of the red spines and in the ribbed valleys; sticky residue attracts sooty mould. Remove with an alcohol-soaked fine brush; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray and repeat after 10 days.
How do I get rid of spider mites on euphorbia enopla?
Dusty, pale stippling across the green stem surface; webbing visible in rib grooves under bright light. Rinse stem carefully avoiding wetting the soil excessively; apply insecticidal soap spray weekly for three rounds.