Pest identification
What's eating my fenestraria rhopalophylla?
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly wax at the base of leaf columns or in the crown; leaves shrivel or fail to fill out
Control: Dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol-soaked cotton bud; drench the root zone with dilute neem oil for suspected root mealybugs
Root mealybugs
Signs: Plant does not plump after watering; white powdery deposits visible on roots at repotting
Control: Unpot, rinse roots, soak briefly in systemic insecticide solution, repot in fresh mineral mix and withhold water for 1–2 weeks
Fungus gnats
Signs: Root loss in moist organic compost; plants yellow and decline slowly
Control: Switch to a coarse mineral grit mix; allow compost to dry completely; use Bti drench to eliminate larvae
Keep fenestraria rhopalophylla pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Fenestraria Rhopalophylla pests — FAQ
What is eating my fenestraria rhopalophylla?
Fenestraria rhopalophylla (baby toes) is an indoor succulent primarily bothered by mealybugs, which nestle at the base of its club-shaped leaves, and by root mealybugs. Fungus gnats can colonise wet soil. Spider mites are an occasional pest in hot, dry rooms. Minimal watering and gritty compost are the best defences.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on fenestraria rhopalophylla?
White woolly wax at the base of leaf columns or in the crown; leaves shrivel or fail to fill out Dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol-soaked cotton bud; drench the root zone with dilute neem oil for suspected root mealybugs
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on fenestraria rhopalophylla?
Plant does not plump after watering; white powdery deposits visible on roots at repotting Unpot, rinse roots, soak briefly in systemic insecticide solution, repot in fresh mineral mix and withhold water for 1–2 weeks
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on fenestraria rhopalophylla?
Root loss in moist organic compost; plants yellow and decline slowly Switch to a coarse mineral grit mix; allow compost to dry completely; use Bti drench to eliminate larvae