Pest identification
What's eating my gasteria nitida?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony wax at leaf bases and the central growing tip; stunted or deformed new leaves
Control: Remove colonies with an alcohol-tipped cotton swab; spray the whole plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days
Scale insects
Signs: Small hard bumps on glossy leaf surfaces; yellow halos around each feeding site
Control: Scrape off scale with a soft toothbrush, swab with isopropyl alcohol, apply horticultural oil; follow up after 2 weeks
Root mealybugs
Signs: Slow unexplained decline and wilting; white powdery coating on roots when plant is unpotted
Control: Strip all old soil, rinse roots thoroughly, soak in diluted neem solution, repot in fresh sterile gritty mix
Keep gasteria nitida pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Gasteria Nitida pests — FAQ
What is eating my gasteria nitida?
Gasteria nitida is a polished, attractive succulent that stays largely pest-free with good care. Mealybugs are the main indoor threat, sheltering at the leaf axils and growing point. Scale can occasionally settle on the glossy leaf surfaces. Root mealybugs develop silently in poorly draining soil.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on gasteria nitida?
White cottony wax at leaf bases and the central growing tip; stunted or deformed new leaves Remove colonies with an alcohol-tipped cotton swab; spray the whole plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days
How do I get rid of scale insects on gasteria nitida?
Small hard bumps on glossy leaf surfaces; yellow halos around each feeding site Scrape off scale with a soft toothbrush, swab with isopropyl alcohol, apply horticultural oil; follow up after 2 weeks
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on gasteria nitida?
Slow unexplained decline and wilting; white powdery coating on roots when plant is unpotted Strip all old soil, rinse roots thoroughly, soak in diluted neem solution, repot in fresh sterile gritty mix