Hello everyone! I'm a very beginner gardener living in southeast Florida. One of my first garden projects was planting some pentas and Mexican heathers in the backyard. I've been noticing some issues. Something is munching away on the Penta leaves, from the edges as well as holes. Yet I can't seem to find the culprits, even been out there at night with a flashlight. 2 of my pentas have started yellowing and I have noticed little mushrooms growing around those after heavy rains. There also seems to be some critter creating holes in the ground, I believe armadillos as I have seen one in that area once before. Any ideas on what could be affecting the plants? And suggestions on the armadillos? From my research they are harmless to the plants. But they are kicking up the red mulch which hubs unfortunately did not pick up before laying the new black mulch down. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

@Absolute46
I'm sorry no one has answered before now.

On the pentas, keep looking for the munching culprit. It's just impossible to say what's eating them. As to the little mushrooms; it's no biggie, they are just an indication of decomposing plant material which is undoubtably the mulch. However, I see some leaf tips browning on the pentas so you might check & make sure that area isn't staying too wet especially if you have a automatic sprinkler system.

Armadillos...... PITA!!!! Yes, they WILL dig up your plants but not for the plants. They will dig to get bugs, earthworms, etc....if plants happen to be in the way - they end up being victims of the dig. Also, they are creatures of habit. If they are visiting your yard now, then they will continue to visit your yard. It's not as if they will move on to some other area.

Could also be squirrels. I have caught them eating most everything I have planted!

So... did you ever discover the penta muncher?

penta is host to the tersa moth... which also uses Richardia ...

Only thing to do about armadillo... trap and drown, or stalk and shoot. Invasives... supposed to live in tx... not here.