What's eating my kalanchoe?

Kalanchoe indoors is most often troubled by mealybugs, which exploit the compact, fleshy stem joints and leaf axils. Spider mites appear in dry conditions. Aphids target the soft, flower-bearing stems. Outdoors, vine weevil larvae can damage roots. The succulent leaves offer some pest resistance but mealybugs thrive in the tight growth habit.

White cottony colonies in leaf axils and at stem bases; affected leaves yellow and drop; sticky honeydew and sooty mould develop Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; isolate the plant; repeat every 7–10 days for a month

Soft-bodied insects clustered on flower buds and young stems; buds may fail to open; honeydew and ants Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap; introduce or encourage predatory insects; remove heavily infested flower heads

Fine pale stippling on fleshy leaves; webbing at growing tips; worsens in heated winter rooms with low humidity Increase humidity around the plant; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap to all leaf surfaces; repeat weekly for three treatments