What's eating my hoya chouke?

Hoya Chouke faces the same indoor pest pressures as all hoyas. Mealybugs are the most likely attacker, hiding in leaf axils and along stems. Spider mites appear in hot, dry conditions, while scale insects and fungus gnats round out the main threats. Inspect waxy leaf undersides regularly and act fast at first sign.

White cottony clusters at leaf joints and stem nodes; sticky honeydew residue and yellowing leaves Dab individual bugs with a cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol; spray the whole plant with neem oil solution weekly for 3–4 weeks

Fine webbing on undersides of leaves; stippled, silvery or bronze-toned foliage; leaves drop in heavy infestations Raise humidity, rinse foliage under lukewarm water; apply insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every 5–7 days until clear

Brown or tan shell-like bumps on stems and leaf midribs; weakened growth and sticky honeydew Scrape off scales manually with a soft brush or cloth; treat with horticultural oil or neem oil, repeating every 10–14 days

Larvae damage roots in moist soil; adult gnats visible around the soil surface; plants may wilt or yellow Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; drench soil with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for larvae