What's eating my hoya pubicalyx?

Hoya pubicalyx, with its waxy leaves and trailing vines, is most commonly attacked by mealybugs nestling in stem joints and leaf axils. Spider mites occur in dry indoor conditions, and scale can colonize woody stems. The dense foliage makes early detection difficult — examine new growth and stem crotches at every watering.

White waxy wool in stem joints and along vines; honeydew drips; leaves yellow and growth stalls if left untreated. Dab with alcohol-soaked swabs; spray the entire plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat every 7–10 days; quarantine from other Hoyas immediately.

Fine webbing particularly at stem tips; stippled, dull or gray-green cast to usually glossy leaves; leaves may drop in severe cases. Shower the plant; increase humidity; treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil spray, paying attention to the undersides of leaves; repeat every 5–7 days.

Brown shell-like bumps fixed to stems and leaf midribs; slow decline in vigor; sticky honeydew residue. Scrape off manually with a soft brush; swab with rubbing alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray and repeat after 2 weeks as eggs hatch.