What's eating my hedera colchica 'dentata variegata'?

This variegated Persian ivy shares the same pest profile as the species. Vine weevil is the most destructive threat — grubs kill roots silently. Spider mites strike in dry heat, aphids cluster on new growth in spring, and scale insects colonise mature stems year-round, all causing cosmetic or structural damage.

Grubs eat roots causing sudden wilt; adult beetles leave characteristic D-shaped notches around leaf margins at night Drench with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer when soil is above 5 °C; use barrier tape or grit mulch around pot rims

Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; variegated areas lose colour contrast; leaves bronze and drop in severe infestations Improve air movement and mist foliage; release Phytoseiulus persimilis; spray with dilute neem oil or a registered acaricide

Dense colonies distort soft shoot tips, excrete honeydew, and encourage sooty mould that obscures the attractive leaf variegation Remove by hand or water blast; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; rely on natural predators where populations are mild

Waxy brown shells encrust stems; sooty mould grows on honeydew beneath, dulling the ornamental foliage Scrub off manually with soapy water; apply horticultural oil when crawlers are active in late spring