Pest identification
What's eating my super king ixora red?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on tender new shoots and flower buds; curled growth and sticky honeydew.
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; a strong water jet removes light infestations.
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or white waxy crusts on stems; sap loss causes leaf yellowing and branch dieback.
Control: Scrub with alcohol-dampened brush; apply horticultural oil to coat and smother scales.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing on undersides during hot, dry spells.
Control: Increase humidity; mist undersides of leaves; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony fluff in leaf axils and on stems; honeydew and ant activity are signs.
Control: Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a swab; follow up with neem oil spray every 7–10 days.
Keep super king ixora red pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Super King Ixora Red pests — FAQ
What is eating my super king ixora red?
Ixora 'Super King' is most troubled by aphids and scale insects on new growth and stems. Spider mites can appear in dry conditions, and mealybugs may shelter in leaf axils. Outdoors in warm climates, thrips sometimes damage flower buds. Ixora is also sensitive to pH — soil too alkaline mimics pest damage through chlorosis.
How do I get rid of aphids on super king ixora red?
Dense colonies on tender new shoots and flower buds; curled growth and sticky honeydew. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; a strong water jet removes light infestations.
How do I get rid of scale insects on super king ixora red?
Brown or white waxy crusts on stems; sap loss causes leaf yellowing and branch dieback. Scrub with alcohol-dampened brush; apply horticultural oil to coat and smother scales.
How do I get rid of spider mites on super king ixora red?
Pale, stippled leaves with fine webbing on undersides during hot, dry spells. Increase humidity; mist undersides of leaves; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on super king ixora red?
White cottony fluff in leaf axils and on stems; honeydew and ant activity are signs. Dab with isopropyl alcohol on a swab; follow up with neem oil spray every 7–10 days.