Pest identification
What's eating my mondo grass?
Spider Mites
Signs: Fine pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing visible under leaves in severe infestations.
Control: Raise humidity, mist leaves regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; isolate infested plants.
Scale Insects
Signs: Brown or tan bumps on leaf bases and stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould may follow.
Control: Scrape off manually with a soft cloth; treat with diluted neem oil or horticultural oil spray.
Fungus Gnats
Signs: Larvae damage fine roots in consistently wet compost; adults are a nuisance around the plant.
Control: Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) drench.
Keep mondo grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Mondo Grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my mondo grass?
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) grown as a houseplant is mainly threatened by spider mites in dry indoor air, causing a pale, stippled look on leaves. Scale insects and mealybugs can also establish on clumped foliage. Fungus gnats are a risk if soil stays too moist.
How do I get rid of spider mites on mondo grass?
Fine pale stippling on leaf surfaces; fine webbing visible under leaves in severe infestations. Raise humidity, mist leaves regularly; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; isolate infested plants.
How do I get rid of scale insects on mondo grass?
Brown or tan bumps on leaf bases and stems; sticky honeydew and sooty mould may follow. Scrape off manually with a soft cloth; treat with diluted neem oil or horticultural oil spray.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on mondo grass?
Larvae damage fine roots in consistently wet compost; adults are a nuisance around the plant. Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) drench.