Pest identification
What's eating my nepenthes miranda?
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white clusters on new growth and underside of pitcher lids; leaves yellow and pitchers fail to develop
Control: Treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs; apply insecticidal soap spray to foliage; repeat weekly for a month
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown bumps on older stems and the base of leaves; honeydew and sooty mould build up
Control: Scrape off with a toothbrush; wipe with a neem oil solution; prune heavily infested old stems
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adults hovering around the pot; larvae chew fine roots in the peat-based mix, causing wilting
Control: Apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) as a soil drench; use yellow sticky cards; top-dress with a thin layer of perlite
Keep nepenthes miranda pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Nepenthes Miranda pests — FAQ
What is eating my nepenthes miranda?
Nepenthes 'Miranda' is a popular hybrid pitcher plant grown indoors or in a terrarium. Mealybugs are its most frequent pest, targeting new leaves and pitcher lids. Scale insects appear on woody stems, and fungus gnats breed in its consistently moist growing medium. The pitchers themselves are not affected by the pests they digest.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on nepenthes miranda?
Cottony white clusters on new growth and underside of pitcher lids; leaves yellow and pitchers fail to develop Treat with 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton swabs; apply insecticidal soap spray to foliage; repeat weekly for a month
How do I get rid of scale insects on nepenthes miranda?
Hard brown bumps on older stems and the base of leaves; honeydew and sooty mould build up Scrape off with a toothbrush; wipe with a neem oil solution; prune heavily infested old stems
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on nepenthes miranda?
Adults hovering around the pot; larvae chew fine roots in the peat-based mix, causing wilting Apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) as a soil drench; use yellow sticky cards; top-dress with a thin layer of perlite