Cyclamen Mites on African Violets: Identifying and Treating Deformed Growth

Symptoms of Cyclamen Mites

• Stunted, distorted, or brittle new leaves at the crown.
• Leaves bunching or elongating abnormally.
• Flowers may be deformed or fail to open.

Confirmation and Treatment

1. Examine crown with 10x hand lens; mites are microscopic, translucent.
2. Isolate affected plants immediately.
3. Treat with a miticide labeled for cyclamen mites (e.g., Avid, Judo) or discard heavily infested plants.
4. Sanitize growing area.

Prevention

Quarantine new plants for 4-6 weeks. Avoid purchasing from sources with visible mite damage.