What's eating my cape primrose?

Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus) is most troubled by vine weevil grubs eating roots, aphids distorting soft new growth, and cyclamen mites causing leaf puckering. Botrytis grey mold is also a serious disease in cool, damp conditions. Inspect roots when repotting and check new growth weekly for early pest signs.

Plants suddenly collapse; roots eaten away by white C-shaped grubs in the compost Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in spring or autumn; repot and remove grubs by hand

Soft, clustered insects on new growth and flower stems; leaves curl and distort; sticky honeydew Squash by hand or blast with water; apply insecticidal soap spray; introduce Aphidius parasitic wasps in a greenhouse

Tiny mites invisible to the naked eye; new leaves become puckered, stunted, and bronze-tinted Destroy heavily affected leaves; use predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris; avoid overhead watering to limit spread

Silver-streaked, distorted flower petals and leaves; tiny black frass specks visible Remove affected flowers; spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad; hang blue sticky traps to monitor