Pest identification
What's eating my tillandsia recurvifolia?
Mealybugs
Signs: Fluffy white deposits at the leaf bases and between overlapping leaves; wilting and yellowing follow heavy feeding.
Control: Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; soak in water with a drop of dish soap and rinse; repeat weekly.
Scale insects
Signs: Small brown or tan raised bumps on leaf undersides; sap loss causes dulling and distortion of leaves.
Control: Scrub gently with a soft toothbrush and soapy water or dab with alcohol; discard severely infested leaves.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling on the silvery leaf surfaces; fine webbing across the leaf tips in dry indoor air.
Control: Raise humidity; rinse thoroughly with water; apply insecticidal soap spray every 5 days for two to three cycles.
Keep tillandsia recurvifolia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tillandsia recurvifolia pests — FAQ
What is eating my tillandsia recurvifolia?
Tillandsia recurvifolia's soft, silver-green arching leaves can attract mealybugs and scale, which tuck into leaf bases where they are hard to spot. Spider mites may appear in low-humidity indoor settings. Frequent soaking, thorough drying, and good airflow are the first line of defense for this air plant.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on tillandsia recurvifolia?
Fluffy white deposits at the leaf bases and between overlapping leaves; wilting and yellowing follow heavy feeding. Treat with isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab; soak in water with a drop of dish soap and rinse; repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of scale insects on tillandsia recurvifolia?
Small brown or tan raised bumps on leaf undersides; sap loss causes dulling and distortion of leaves. Scrub gently with a soft toothbrush and soapy water or dab with alcohol; discard severely infested leaves.
How do I get rid of spider mites on tillandsia recurvifolia?
Pale stippling on the silvery leaf surfaces; fine webbing across the leaf tips in dry indoor air. Raise humidity; rinse thoroughly with water; apply insecticidal soap spray every 5 days for two to three cycles.