What's eating my petrocosmea nervosa?

Petrocosmea nervosa is a small, softly textured indoor gesneriad with attractively veined leaves. Indoors it is most likely to encounter mealybugs hiding in its compact rosette and spider mites in dry-air environments. Over-watered pots attract fungus gnats whose larvae can undermine the shallow root system.

Fluffy white colonies at leaf axils and the growing point; leaves yellow; honeydew encourages mould. Dab infestations with 70% isopropyl alcohol; treat the whole plant with dilute neem oil spray weekly until no signs remain.

Silvery stippling across leaf surfaces; delicate webbing on undersides; foliage deteriorates in dry indoor air. Raise humidity; wipe leaves with a damp cloth; spray insecticidal soap or miticide focusing on leaf undersides, repeating every 5-7 days.

Root damage from larvae causes wilting and poor growth; adult flies congregate around the soil surface. Let the potting mix surface dry between waterings; use yellow sticky traps for adults; apply Bti drench to eliminate larvae.