Pest identification
What's eating my faucaria bosscheana?
Root mealybugs
Signs: White waxy powder coating roots at repotting; plant body deflates and fails to firm up after watering; slow, unexplained decline.
Control: Unpot, shake off all compost, rinse roots in diluted insecticidal soap, dry for two days, repot in fresh very gritty mix.
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white deposits lodged between the strongly toothed leaf pairs; honeydew; leaf tips may brown.
Control: Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol into each leaf junction with a dropper; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adults hovering around soil; larvae chew fine roots making the plant prone to rot.
Control: Maintain strict summer dry dormancy; use a very gritty mineral compost; apply Bti drench if adults are seen.
Keep faucaria bosscheana pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Faucaria Bosscheana pests — FAQ
What is eating my faucaria bosscheana?
Faucaria bosscheana (tiger jaws) is most often targeted by root mealybugs and occasionally above-ground mealybugs in its toothed leaf junctions. Overwatered compost invites fungus gnats. Spider mites can appear in very dry conditions. For a plant that is mostly dormant in summer, keeping compost bone-dry during that period prevents most pest outbreaks.
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on faucaria bosscheana?
White waxy powder coating roots at repotting; plant body deflates and fails to firm up after watering; slow, unexplained decline. Unpot, shake off all compost, rinse roots in diluted insecticidal soap, dry for two days, repot in fresh very gritty mix.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on faucaria bosscheana?
Fluffy white deposits lodged between the strongly toothed leaf pairs; honeydew; leaf tips may brown. Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol into each leaf junction with a dropper; treat the whole plant with neem oil spray weekly.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on faucaria bosscheana?
Adults hovering around soil; larvae chew fine roots making the plant prone to rot. Maintain strict summer dry dormancy; use a very gritty mineral compost; apply Bti drench if adults are seen.