Why does your Cymbopogon citratus have sticky leaves? Diagnose the cause and fix it with our step-by-step guide.
Pet FriendlyAphids are small insects that pierce the tender blades of lemongrass to suck sap, excreting a sugary substance known as honeydew. This honeydew creates the characteristic sticky film on the leaf surfaces.
Scale insects attach themselves to the lemongrass blades and feed on plant fluids, leaving behind sticky honeydew as a byproduct of digestion. Unlike aphids, these pests may look like small, immobile bumps or shells on the leaf stalks.
While not the primary cause of stickiness, sooty mold is a black fungus that grows specifically on the honeydew left by sap-sucking insects. The presence of black, powdery residue indicates a secondary fungal infection following an insect outbreak.
Mealybugs produce honeydew and are often covered in a white, cottony wax. They tend to congregate in the tight crevices of the lemongrass leaf bases, making them harder to spot than aphids.
English
Italiano
