What's eating my hoya fitchii?

Hoya fitchii, like most hoyas, is most commonly attacked by mealybugs hiding in leaf axils and at stem nodes. Spider mites and aphids are secondary concerns, especially in dry indoor air. Inspect waxy leaves and star-patterned flower clusters regularly and act fast at the first sign of infestation.

White cottony wax masses in leaf axils and along stems; honeydew deposits attract sooty mould and weaken growth. Remove with a rubbing-alcohol-dipped cotton swab; spray the whole plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for 3–4 weeks.

Tiny pale speckling on leaf surfaces with fine webbing underneath; foliage looks dull and may curl in dry conditions. Increase humidity, shower the plant to dislodge mites, then apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days.

Soft pear-shaped insects clustered on new shoots; distorted tender growth and sticky residue on leaves. Blast off with a strong water spray, then treat with insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until the colony is gone.