Pest identification
What's eating my maughan's cone plant?
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white deposits under or within the dried leaf sheath; plant body soft or shrunken despite correct care
Control: Remove old sheath, dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol, treat surrounding soil surface with diluted neem oil
Root mealybugs
Signs: Waxy white threads on root system discovered at repotting; unexplained wilting in autumn growing season
Control: Full unpot, root rinse, systemic insecticide drench, allow to dry, repot in sterile gritty mineral compost
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae graze fine roots in overly moist soil, compounding stress on an already vulnerable plant
Control: Keep soil bone dry in summer dormancy; apply Bti drench at first sign of adult flies
Keep maughan's cone plant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Maughan's Cone Plant pests — FAQ
What is eating my maughan's cone plant?
Maughan's Cone Plant is a rare Conophytum targeted by the same pests that trouble all cone plants: mealybugs concealed in the papery sheath and root mealybugs colonizing the root zone. Because the plant is tiny and slow-growing, even a small infestation can set it back years. Annual root inspections are essential.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on maughan's cone plant?
Fluffy white deposits under or within the dried leaf sheath; plant body soft or shrunken despite correct care Remove old sheath, dab colonies with isopropyl alcohol, treat surrounding soil surface with diluted neem oil
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on maughan's cone plant?
Waxy white threads on root system discovered at repotting; unexplained wilting in autumn growing season Full unpot, root rinse, systemic insecticide drench, allow to dry, repot in sterile gritty mineral compost
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on maughan's cone plant?
Larvae graze fine roots in overly moist soil, compounding stress on an already vulnerable plant Keep soil bone dry in summer dormancy; apply Bti drench at first sign of adult flies