What's eating my oreocharis auricula?

Oreocharis auricula is a compact rock-garden gesneriad that pests rarely heavily attack, but mealybugs can exploit its rosette structure and spider mites may colonise plants under glass. If grown outdoors in a sheltered spot, slugs are the main threat, shredding the soft felted leaves overnight.

Irregular holes chewed through the soft, hairy leaves; slime trails across rosettes; seedlings can be destroyed overnight Hand-pick at dusk; surround pots with copper tape; apply iron phosphate pellets; remove hiding spots like debris near the plant

White waxy fluff tucked between rosette leaves; sticky honeydew; plants lose vigour and produce fewer flowers Probe the rosette with an alcohol-soaked swab; treat with neem oil drench; repot into fresh mix if root mealybugs suspected

Tiny pale dots stippling upper leaf surface; webbing at leaf bases; leaves turn papery and bronze in severe cases Increase air humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 7 days for three cycles