What's eating my lemongrass?

Lemongrass is generally pest-resistant outdoors, but rust fungus causes orange-streaked leaves in humid conditions. Spider mites attack when plants are grown in dry indoor or container settings. Aphids occasionally visit. Mealybugs can colonise crowded clumps, especially when overwintered under glass.

Fine pale stippling and webbing on leaf blades; foliage looks bleached and dried in hot, low-humidity spots Mist foliage and increase humidity; spray all leaf surfaces with insecticidal soap or neem oil

Sticky honeydew on lower leaves; small colonies at the base of new shoots Knock off with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist

White fluffy wax deposits in leaf sheaths and at stem bases; slow growth and yellowing Dab individual mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil as a drench