Question

Venticosa xAtristoclio  

Venticosa x Aristoclio   Allexperts,

I was watering the plant today and I came across the damage to the growth point.   I was wondering what is going on with the plant.  Could the problem be pests or a some other problem.  I have attached two photos.

Sincereley,

Weylin

Answer
Yes, the problem is likely due to pests, specifically thrips.  They love to munch on the new growth.  They're also very tiny, so you won't see them unless you use a magnifying glass.  Spray your plants with a systemic insecticide.  Watch our video podcast on the topic:
http://youtu.be/lbRCdJ8ZNF0

After spraying your plant, you will need to wait for 3-6 months before the plant looks normal again.  It takes that long for new growth to replace the damaged portions of the plant.


Good growing!
Jacob Farin