What's eating my sun pitcher?

Heliamphora nutans is a delicate indoor tropical sun pitcher requiring high humidity and cool temperatures. Mealybugs are the most reported pest. Spider mites can establish in low humidity, and aphids occasionally attack stems. The small pitchers self-fill with rainwater and digest prey, but this does not deter sap-sucking pests.

White, powdery wax clusters at leaf bases, pitcher necks, and root zone; pitchers fail to develop and leaves yellow. Dab with rubbing-alcohol cotton swab; apply dilute neem oil carefully. Inspect roots at repotting as mealybugs colonise soil too. Quarantine the plant immediately.

Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaves and pitcher walls; most common when humidity drops below 60%. Maintain humidity above 70% (a terrarium helps). Wipe affected areas with a damp cloth; apply dilute insecticidal soap. Avoid synthetic miticides on this sensitive genus.

Soft colonies on stems and around pitcher bases; sap loss causes weak, small pitchers and overall decline. Remove manually or rinse with lukewarm water. Apply insecticidal soap sparingly to stems only, keeping soap out of pitcher tubes.