What's eating my noni?

Noni is troubled most by scale insects, which build up during cooler months and coat stems with sap-sucking colonies that trigger sooty mold. Aphids and leaf miners also attack new growth. Keep plants well-watered and spaced to improve airflow; treat outbreaks with neem oil or horticultural oil spray.

Encrust green stems, especially October–February; heavy infestations cause yellowing, stem dieback, and black sooty mold on honeydew deposits Spray with horticultural oil or neem oil when crawlers are active; scrub established scale off stems; prune the most infested branches

Peak in late winter/spring; colonize shoot tips causing curled leaves and sticky honeydew that encourages mold Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; release ladybirds as biocontrol; knock off with a strong water spray

Larvae tunnel through young leaves leaving silvery winding trails; worst in cooler months (December peak); weakens young plants Remove and destroy mined leaves; apply neem oil or spinosad spray targeting adult leaf-miner flies; encourage parasitic wasps