Spider mites
Tiny, spider-like pests that show up as small moving dots, usually on the undersides of leaves. Alocasia are a favourite.
Look forFine webbing and pale speckling across the leaf.
Pest control
Pest Patrol
Our home-made spray for spider mites, aphids and mealybugs. Castile soaps and neem oil, mixed in a pressurised sprayer. It's the recipe we use in the nursery.
- Made without synthetic pesticides
- Castile soaps and neem oil
- Four weekly treatments
Know your pests
The usual suspects
Three of the most common pests on Alocasia, and how to spot them early.
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects, usually green, black or brown, that gather in clusters.
Look forClusters along stems and on new growth.
Mealybugs
Cottony white insects that settle in leaf joints and on the undersides of leaves.
Look forDistorted new growth and yellowing leaves.
Our recipe
Makes 1 litre
Six ingredients, mixed in the order below.
- 30ml Peppermint castile soapPure castile soap£19.99 CASTILE SOAP PEPPERMINT (1L)
- 30ml Tea tree castile soapPure castile soap£19.99 CASTILE SOAP TEA TREE (1L)
- 5ml Neem oilCold-pressed
- 120ml Isopropyl alcohol70% strength£3.99 ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL 70%
- 20ml Hydrogen peroxide3% strength
- To 1L Distilled waterFiltered water also works
Tip Use cold-pressed neem oil and pure castile soap for the best results.
Method
Mix it, test it, spray it
-
01
Soaps and neem first
Add both castile soaps and the neem oil to your spray bottle and mix. The soap helps the oil blend with the water.
-
02
Alcohol and peroxide
Add the isopropyl alcohol, then the hydrogen peroxide.
-
03
Top up with water
Top up to 1 litre with distilled or filtered water and swirl to mix. Shake gently before each use.
-
04
Patch test
Spray a small part of the plant and wait 24 hours. Check for marks or damage before you treat the whole plant.
-
05
Spray
We use a pressurised spray bottle and take each plant outside. Cover the tops and undersides of every leaf, the stems and the top of the substrate. Wait 30 minutes and spray again.
-
06
Keep them gone
Keep treated plants away from the rest of your collection for at least a week. Repeat step 5 weekly for the next three weeks, and wipe down shelves, cabinets and anything close by.