What's eating my hoya curtisii?

Hoya curtisii is a compact, slow-growing miniature Hoya prone to mealybugs sheltering in its tight leaf clusters and trailing stems. Spider mites can colonise the small, succulent-like leaves in dry air. Fungus gnats appear when the soil stays too wet. Its diminutive size makes pests easy to miss — inspect closely.

Cottony white specks between the small closely-packed leaves and at stem joints; leaves turn yellow and plant loses vigour Use a fine-tipped cotton swab dipped in 70% isopropyl alcohol to reach tight spots; apply diluted neem oil as a follow-up drench/spray

Tiny yellow or brown speckling on the leaf surface; webbing visible under magnification; leaves dry out and shrivel Rinse the trailing stems thoroughly under lukewarm water; spray with insecticidal soap; ensure good ventilation and moderate humidity

Larvae feed on fine roots in overly moist soil; adult gnats fly around the pot; plant looks wilted despite adequate watering Allow soil to dry more between waterings (Hoya curtisii tolerates this well); use yellow sticky traps; apply BTi drench or hydrogen peroxide solution (1:4 ratio) to soil