Pest identification
What's eating my jacobinia carnea?
Spider mites
Signs: Upper leaf surface develops fine pale stippling and a dull, dusty appearance; leaves may yellow and drop; webbing visible on undersides in heavy attacks.
Control: Raise humidity around the plant; rinse foliage and spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3–4 weeks; avoid hot, dry positions.
Whitefly
Signs: Adults fly up from leaf undersides when disturbed; immobile scale-like nymphs on undersides cause yellowing and sticky honeydew deposits.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps and spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; in greenhouses introduce Encarsia formosa for biological control.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies pack flower stems and the base of the showy pink plume flower spikes; flower buds may abort or become deformed.
Control: Knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly until the infestation is eliminated.
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white masses at stem joints and in leaf axils; sap loss weakens the plant and honeydew promotes sooty mold on lower foliage.
Control: Swab individual colonies with isopropyl alcohol; treat the whole plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray on a 7-day schedule.
Keep jacobinia carnea pest-free
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Jacobinia Carnea pests — FAQ
What is eating my jacobinia carnea?
Jacobinia Carnea (Justicia carnea, Brazilian Plume Flower) is most troubled by spider mites in warm indoor or greenhouse conditions, bleaching its large, soft leaves. Whitefly is a very common pest under glass. Aphids target the lush flower spikes and buds. Scale and mealybugs establish on woody stems of older plants.
How do I get rid of spider mites on jacobinia carnea?
Upper leaf surface develops fine pale stippling and a dull, dusty appearance; leaves may yellow and drop; webbing visible on undersides in heavy attacks. Raise humidity around the plant; rinse foliage and spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days for 3–4 weeks; avoid hot, dry positions.
How do I get rid of whitefly on jacobinia carnea?
Adults fly up from leaf undersides when disturbed; immobile scale-like nymphs on undersides cause yellowing and sticky honeydew deposits. Use yellow sticky traps and spray leaf undersides with insecticidal soap or pyrethrin; in greenhouses introduce Encarsia formosa for biological control.
How do I get rid of aphids on jacobinia carnea?
Colonies pack flower stems and the base of the showy pink plume flower spikes; flower buds may abort or become deformed. Knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray weekly until the infestation is eliminated.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on jacobinia carnea?
Cottony white masses at stem joints and in leaf axils; sap loss weakens the plant and honeydew promotes sooty mold on lower foliage. Swab individual colonies with isopropyl alcohol; treat the whole plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray on a 7-day schedule.