Pest identification
What's eating my tillandsia brachycaulos?
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly deposits at leaf axils; leaves lose colour and feel soft; plant blushes unevenly
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; quarantine plant; repeat weekly for 3-4 weeks
Scale insects
Signs: Hard tan or brown bumps on the underside of leaves; honeydew deposits attract mould
Control: Scrape off with a toothpick; treat residuals with an alcohol swab; apply diluted neem oil spray
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing and silvery stipple marks on leaf surfaces; worst in warm, dry indoor conditions
Control: Rinse with lukewarm water; raise humidity around the plant; apply neem oil spray if webbing reappears
Keep tillandsia brachycaulos pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tillandsia brachycaulos pests — FAQ
What is eating my tillandsia brachycaulos?
Tillandsia brachycaulos is a popular indoor air plant susceptible to mealybugs, which colonise its broad leaf bases, and to scale insects and spider mites in dry rooms. Its flat rosette makes early inspection easy. Treat mealybugs promptly with isopropyl alcohol swabs and ensure the plant drains and dries within four hours of watering.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on tillandsia brachycaulos?
White woolly deposits at leaf axils; leaves lose colour and feel soft; plant blushes unevenly Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; quarantine plant; repeat weekly for 3-4 weeks
How do I get rid of scale insects on tillandsia brachycaulos?
Hard tan or brown bumps on the underside of leaves; honeydew deposits attract mould Scrape off with a toothpick; treat residuals with an alcohol swab; apply diluted neem oil spray
How do I get rid of spider mites on tillandsia brachycaulos?
Fine webbing and silvery stipple marks on leaf surfaces; worst in warm, dry indoor conditions Rinse with lukewarm water; raise humidity around the plant; apply neem oil spray if webbing reappears