Pest identification
What's eating my variegated elephant bush?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy tufts at leaf nodes, stem forks, and growing tips; sticky honeydew and sooty mold on leaves.
Control: Dab with isopropyl alcohol; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days for 3 weeks; check the soil surface for root mealybugs.
Spider mites
Signs: Tiny pale dots on leaves; leaf drop in severe infestations; fine webbing on stems.
Control: Mist the plant to raise humidity; wipe stems with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap spray and repeat weekly until clear.
Scale insects
Signs: Small brown or grey bumps on woody stems; the plant looks dull and produces little new growth.
Control: Scrape off with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat treatment every 2 weeks.
Keep variegated elephant bush pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats elephant bush — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats variegated elephant bush — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common variegated elephant bush problems & fixes
- Variegated Elephant Bush watering schedule
- Variegated Elephant Bush light requirements
- Full variegated elephant bush care guide
Variegated Elephant Bush pests — FAQ
What is eating my variegated elephant bush?
Variegated Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra 'Variegata') is a soft-stemmed succulent attractive to mealybugs and spider mites, which thrive in warm, dry indoor air. Scale insects can appear on woody stems. Its small, fleshy leaves make infestations easy to miss until well established — inspect stems and leaf undersides monthly.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on variegated elephant bush?
White waxy tufts at leaf nodes, stem forks, and growing tips; sticky honeydew and sooty mold on leaves. Dab with isopropyl alcohol; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7 days for 3 weeks; check the soil surface for root mealybugs.
How do I get rid of spider mites on variegated elephant bush?
Tiny pale dots on leaves; leaf drop in severe infestations; fine webbing on stems. Mist the plant to raise humidity; wipe stems with a damp cloth; apply insecticidal soap spray and repeat weekly until clear.
How do I get rid of scale insects on variegated elephant bush?
Small brown or grey bumps on woody stems; the plant looks dull and produces little new growth. Scrape off with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat treatment every 2 weeks.