Pest identification
What's eating my rollers houseleek?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy fluff deep in the centre of rosettes; leaf bases may brown; plant growth stalls.
Control: Use a fine brush or cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to reach inside the rosette; spray neem oil; separate from other houseplants.
Root Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy coating on roots visible only when unpotted; plant wilts and looks dull despite adequate watering.
Control: Unpot, wash roots clean, allow to dry, and repot in fresh grit compost; soak roots in diluted neem solution before repotting.
Fungus Gnats
Signs: Larvae in over-moist growing medium attack fine roots; adult gnats fly around the pot.
Control: Water sparingly; use a well-draining succulent mix; apply Bti-based product as a soil drench; use sticky yellow traps.
Keep rollers houseleek pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Rollers Houseleek pests — FAQ
What is eating my rollers houseleek?
Rollers Houseleek (Sempervivum globiferum) kept as a houseplant is mainly troubled by mealybugs lodging deep between its tightly packed rosette leaves. Root mealybugs can also go undetected until the plant wilts. Overwatered pots invite fungus gnats. The dense rosette form shelters pests from casual inspection — mealybugs in the rosette crown are the top threat.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on rollers houseleek?
White waxy fluff deep in the centre of rosettes; leaf bases may brown; plant growth stalls. Use a fine brush or cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to reach inside the rosette; spray neem oil; separate from other houseplants.
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on rollers houseleek?
White waxy coating on roots visible only when unpotted; plant wilts and looks dull despite adequate watering. Unpot, wash roots clean, allow to dry, and repot in fresh grit compost; soak roots in diluted neem solution before repotting.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on rollers houseleek?
Larvae in over-moist growing medium attack fine roots; adult gnats fly around the pot. Water sparingly; use a well-draining succulent mix; apply Bti-based product as a soil drench; use sticky yellow traps.