What's eating my nathalie's ramonda?

Ramonda nathaliae shares the same pest vulnerability as its close Pyrenean relatives: slugs and snails are the headline threat in outdoor rockeries, while mealybugs and aphids can settle in the hairy rosette indoors or in an alpine house. Good drainage and avoiding overcrowding keep problems minimal for this otherwise very tough plant.

Bite marks and ragged holes in the fleshy rosette leaves; slimy trails confirm the culprit; whole rosettes can be stripped overnight Use horticultural grit mulch around the base; iron phosphate pellets are wildlife-safe; plant on its side in a crevice to reduce moisture pooling and slug access

Fluffy white wax clusters at the base of leaf petioles and in the crown; affected leaves yellow and may drop Spot-treat with isopropyl alcohol on a swab, repeating weekly; neem oil spray works for broader coverage; quarantine affected plants

Small green or brown insects clustered on new buds and flower stalks; distorted flowers; sticky honeydew on lower leaves Remove by hand or with a fine water spray; use insecticidal soap or dilute neem oil; check flower stems closely in spring when aphid populations peak