Pest identification
What's eating my wax begonia?
Aphids
Signs: Green or black colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew and curled leaves
Control: Remove by hand or with a water blast; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes in leaves and eaten seedlings, especially after rain; slime trails present
Control: Scatter iron phosphate pellets; use grit or eggshell mulch; hand-pick at dusk
Vine weevil
Signs: Larvae devour roots and crown in container plants, causing sudden collapse
Control: Apply vine weevil nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to compost in late summer; check roots when repotting
Keep wax begonia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Wax Begonia pests — FAQ
What is eating my wax begonia?
Wax Begonia is a tough outdoor bedding plant, but aphids are its most common problem, clustering on new growth. Slugs and snails eat young plants and petals in cool, wet weather. Vine weevil can attack roots in containers. Indoors, mealybugs and spider mites are the typical threats.
How do I get rid of aphids on wax begonia?
Green or black colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew and curled leaves Remove by hand or with a water blast; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on wax begonia?
Holes in leaves and eaten seedlings, especially after rain; slime trails present Scatter iron phosphate pellets; use grit or eggshell mulch; hand-pick at dusk
How do I get rid of vine weevil on wax begonia?
Larvae devour roots and crown in container plants, causing sudden collapse Apply vine weevil nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to compost in late summer; check roots when repotting