What's eating my pendulous homalomena?

Pendulous Homalomena, like other Homalomena, is most troubled by mealybugs and spider mites indoors. Its pendant stems create sheltered nooks where mealybugs thrive unseen. Keep humidity moderate and inspect along the full length of stems at least monthly.

White cottony fluff along stems and at leaf nodes; honeydew drips onto lower leaves; overall vigor declines Isolate the plant; dab colonies with alcohol; apply a neem oil and water spray to the whole plant; repeat every 7–10 days

Tiny yellow dots stippling leaves; webbing visible on leaf undersides; leaves lose luster and may drop Raise humidity above 50%; rinse stems and leaves with lukewarm water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil treatment

Small dark flies hovering near soil; larvae damage fine roots in overly moist compost, leading to poor water uptake Let soil surface dry between waterings; use sticky yellow traps; apply a Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) soil drench