As a horticulture and landscaping expert , I empathize the defeat of dealing with gadfly on your beloved plants . ZZ plants are generally quite resilient and can hold out a diverseness of conditions , including pests . However , there are a few common pests that can on occasion plague ZZ plants .
1 . Scale Insects : These pocket-sized , oval - mold insect attach themselves to the stems and leaves of the ZZ plant and suck out the sap . They can be brown , black , or white in color and may seem as small bump or scales . If leave untreated , scale insect can cause yellowing of leaves and stunted growth . To get free of them , you could manually remove them with a cotton wool swab dip in rubbing alcohol or use insecticidal soap .
2 . Aphids : Aphids are tiny , pear tree - shaped insects that can be dark-green , pitch-black , brown , or lily-livered in color . They cluster on new development and stems , suck out plant cosh and causing leaf to curl or distort . To control aphid on your ZZ plant , you may spray them off with a strong stream of water supply or use insecticidal soap or neem oil .
3 . Blight : Blight is a fungal disease that can affect ZZ plants , causing black or browned spots on leaf and stem . It thrives in humid conditions and can spread rapidly if not treated quickly . To prevent blight , avoid overwatering your ZZ plant and ensure good air circulation . If you remark sign of blight , move out infected leaves and cover the plant life with a fungicide .
4 . Whiteflies : whitefly are tiny , white dirt ball that resemble miniature moth . They congregate on the undersurface of leaves and suck out plant sap , causing leaves to turn yellow and wilt . To control whitefly , you’re able to use yellow gummy traps to catch grownup flies , or apply insecticidal soap or neem rock oil .
5 . Mealybugs : Mealybugs are small , flabby - embodied insects covered in a blanched , cotton - like kernel . They bung on the fool of plants and can cause leaves to yellow and distort . To remove mealy bug from your ZZ works , you could practice a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to manually transfer them or use insecticidal soap .
In my personal experience , I have encountered scale dirt ball on my ZZ plant . I noticed little brown bumps on the stalk and leaves , which led me to suspect their presence . I used a cotton mop dip in itch alcohol to manually slay the exfoliation , being measured to cover all moved areas . It took a few treatments to all eradicate the scale insects , but my ZZ plants finally recovered and continued to fly high .
Remember , while these pests can be a nuisance , they are generally rare on ZZ plants . Regularly inspecting your plant for any signs of pests and promptly treating any plague will aid keep your ZZ plant goodly and pest - free .
Caroline Bates
