Pest identification
What's eating my plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'?
Whitefly
Signs: Clouds of tiny white insects rise when foliage is touched; leaf undersides are covered in scale-like nymphs; leaves yellow and leaves drop.
Control: Use yellow sticky traps; spray leaf undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap in the morning; space plants well for airflow.
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly masses in leaf axils and along stems; foliage yellows and the plant becomes sticky with honeydew.
Control: Remove with alcohol-dipped swab; follow with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; avoid overcrowding and overwatering.
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on shoot tips; leaves curl and become distorted; sooty mold can develop on the scarlet foliage.
Control: Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat at weekly intervals until clear.
Keep plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats painted nettle — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' problems & fixes
- Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' watering schedule
- Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' light requirements
- Full plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' care guide
Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' pests — FAQ
What is eating my plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'?
Coleus 'Wizard Scarlet' is a compact bedding coleus prone to the same sap-sucking pests as all scutellarioides cultivars. Whiteflies are the worst offender outdoors in warm summers. Mealybugs appear when plants are crowded or stressed. Aphids hit new growth, and slugs can damage the soft leaves in wet weather.
How do I get rid of whitefly on plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'?
Clouds of tiny white insects rise when foliage is touched; leaf undersides are covered in scale-like nymphs; leaves yellow and leaves drop. Use yellow sticky traps; spray leaf undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap in the morning; space plants well for airflow.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'?
White woolly masses in leaf axils and along stems; foliage yellows and the plant becomes sticky with honeydew. Remove with alcohol-dipped swab; follow with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray; avoid overcrowding and overwatering.
How do I get rid of aphids on plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'?
Soft colonies on shoot tips; leaves curl and become distorted; sooty mold can develop on the scarlet foliage. Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat at weekly intervals until clear.