The culprit is Trionymus diminutus, a 4mm sap-feeding mealybug that breeds relentlessly when the weather is warm and isn't killed by winter frosts. It deposits a white, waxy substance at the base of the sheathed phormium leaves. A mild infestation is not a problem, but in excess the plants will suffer and could even die.

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Symptoms

Smudges of white, waxy deposits appear at the base of phormium leaves, deposited by sap-feeding insects. The mealybug can cause loss of vigour in the plant and, in extreme cases, death.

Find it on

phormiums

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Organic

Destroy infested plants. Check new plants carefully to make sure they are not infected.

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