Pest identification
What's eating my spanish moss?
Scale insects
Signs: Tiny waxy or hard bumps along the thread-like stems; sections of the drape turn grey-brown and die back.
Control: Dunk the entire drape in a bucket of water with a small amount of neem oil; gently work through the strands; repeat monthly.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony clusters at stem nodes; sticky honeydew makes strands clump together.
Control: Soak in dilute isopropyl alcohol solution (1 part alcohol to 3 parts water) for a few minutes; rinse with clean water and dry in good airflow.
Keep spanish moss pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Spanish Moss pests — FAQ
What is eating my spanish moss?
Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is a hanging air plant most troubled by scale insects, which can spread along its long festooning strands. Mealybugs occasionally colonise the nodes. Its tangled form makes inspection difficult — dunking the entire drape in water and inspecting after is the most practical approach.
How do I get rid of scale insects on spanish moss?
Tiny waxy or hard bumps along the thread-like stems; sections of the drape turn grey-brown and die back. Dunk the entire drape in a bucket of water with a small amount of neem oil; gently work through the strands; repeat monthly.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on spanish moss?
White cottony clusters at stem nodes; sticky honeydew makes strands clump together. Soak in dilute isopropyl alcohol solution (1 part alcohol to 3 parts water) for a few minutes; rinse with clean water and dry in good airflow.