aphids on Wandering Jew
Quick answer
If your Wandering Jew has aphids, the most likely cause is: Aphids are listed among the pests that trouble wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis, T. pallida Purpurea, T. zebrina, Zebrina pendula, Tradescantia albiflora); small wedge-shaped insects settle on the soft new leaves and stems where their piercing mouthparts and the sticky honeydew residue they leave behind cause spotting and discoloration on the variegated purple, silver, cream, and green foliage.
Start here:
- 1. Pinch off badly affected stems and tips as soon as aphids are spotted, then rinse the plant with a fine spray of water to dislodge the remaining insects and their sticky honeydew residue.
- 2. If the colony persists, spray thoroughly, including the undersides of the leaves, with an insecticidal soap or a labelled contact insecticide, repeating the application to kill young insects that hatch after the first treatment.
Why Wandering Jew gets aphids
wandering jew
Aphids are listed among the pests that trouble wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis, T. pallida Purpurea, T. zebrina, Zebrina pendula, Tradescantia albiflora); small wedge-shaped insects settle on the soft new leaves and stems where their piercing mouthparts and the sticky honeydew residue they leave behind cause spotting and discoloration on the variegated purple, silver, cream, and green foliage.
How to reverse aphids on Wandering Jew
- 1
Pinch off badly affected stems and tips as soon as aphids are spotted, then rinse the plant with a fine spray of water to dislodge the remaining insects and their sticky honeydew residue.
- 2
If the colony persists, spray thoroughly, including the undersides of the leaves, with an insecticidal soap or a labelled contact insecticide, repeating the application to kill young insects that hatch after the first treatment.
Keep aphids off this Wandering Jew
Inspect the undersides of new leaves and stem tips regularly during spring and summer when aphids are most active, isolate any new plant before adding it to the collection, and pinch growing tips to keep the plant compact so pests have fewer soft new shoots to colonize.