Pest identification
What's eating my strawberry begonia?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves look dull and bleached
Control: Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly until clear
Mealybugs
Signs: Cottony white deposits at leaf bases and along stolons; sticky honeydew on surfaces below
Control: Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; isolate the plant and treat with neem oil spray for 3–4 weeks
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied clusters on new growth and stems; distorted young leaves and sticky residue
Control: Blast off with a gentle water spray; apply insecticidal soap solution, repeating every 5–7 days
Keep strawberry begonia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Strawberry Begonia pests — FAQ
What is eating my strawberry begonia?
Strawberry Begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera) is most commonly attacked by spider mites and mealybugs indoors. Its soft, hairy leaves attract mites in low humidity. As a prolific runner-producing plant, mealybugs can travel along stolons to infest new plantlets. Aphids may appear if grown near a bright window.
How do I get rid of spider mites on strawberry begonia?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves look dull and bleached Mist foliage regularly to raise humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil weekly until clear
How do I get rid of mealybugs on strawberry begonia?
Cottony white deposits at leaf bases and along stolons; sticky honeydew on surfaces below Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; isolate the plant and treat with neem oil spray for 3–4 weeks
How do I get rid of aphids on strawberry begonia?
Soft-bodied clusters on new growth and stems; distorted young leaves and sticky residue Blast off with a gentle water spray; apply insecticidal soap solution, repeating every 5–7 days