Pest identification
What's eating my passiflora alata?
Spider Mites
Signs: Pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides; leaves yellow and drop in dry indoor air
Control: Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; spray undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use predatory mites in conservatories
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony deposits in leaf axils and on stems; honeydew, sooty mold, and weakened growth
Control: Wipe off with alcohol on a cotton swab; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until clear
Scale Insects
Signs: Brown or tan oval bumps on stems and leaf midribs; sap-sucking causes leaf yellowing and dieback
Control: Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil; systemic insecticide for severe cases
Keep passiflora alata pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Passiflora alata pests — FAQ
What is eating my passiflora alata?
Passiflora alata (winged-stem passion flower) is most often grown as a tropical houseplant or conservatory climber in temperate regions. Indoors it is most threatened by spider mites in warm, dry air and mealybugs in leaf axils. Scale insects cling to woody stems. Whitefly is a secondary concern in heated glasshouses.
How do I get rid of spider mites on passiflora alata?
Pale stippling on upper leaf surfaces; fine webbing on undersides; leaves yellow and drop in dry indoor air Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; spray undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use predatory mites in conservatories
How do I get rid of mealybugs on passiflora alata?
White cottony deposits in leaf axils and on stems; honeydew, sooty mold, and weakened growth Wipe off with alcohol on a cotton swab; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; repeat weekly until clear
How do I get rid of scale insects on passiflora alata?
Brown or tan oval bumps on stems and leaf midribs; sap-sucking causes leaf yellowing and dieback Scrape off with a soft toothbrush; treat with horticultural oil; systemic insecticide for severe cases