What's eating my sansevieria eilensis?

Sansevieria Eilensis is a rare, succulent-like species from Somalia that tolerates harsh conditions. Its main pests indoors are mealybugs hiding in the concave leaf channel, and spider mites in dry air. Root mealybugs can silently damage roots in overly moist soil. Keep the plant on the dry side to minimise pest pressure.

White cottony deposits along the distinctive U-shaped leaf groove; leaf tips may brown and the plant loses vigour. Dab colonies with a cotton swab moistened in 70% isopropyl alcohol. Apply neem oil spray across all surfaces and repeat every 7–10 days.

White powdery residue on roots visible when repotting; plant wilts and declines without obvious above-ground cause. Unpot, shake off all soil, rinse roots in warm water and treat with a systemic insecticide or imidacloprid drench. Repot in fresh, dry mix.

Faint stippling on the cylindrical, concave leaves; heavy infestations cause webbing around the leaf base. Wipe leaves carefully with a damp cloth and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray. Improve air circulation around the plant.