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Despite their know resiliency to harsh and grim environments , succulent are still susceptible to a telephone number of pest infestations . The overweight parting of a succulent flora mean value water - filled , nutrient - plenteous cells , the very thing that attracts these vexatious little insects or fungus such as white fuzzy mould .
If the conditions are met , they will for certain make a home out of the nook and crack of any succulent .
Whether experienced or not , most succulent cultivator will go through the occasional pest attack , and there is nothing to do but attempt to control the plague . Pest infestation in succulents can become very damaging and eventually kill the plant if not controlled right away .
To help with diagnosis and obliteration , we compiled some of the coarse pests that can induce hurt to yoursucculents .
Mealybugs
These louse plague are small , about 2.5 mm in length . They have an unmistakable white , cottony coating that insulates and protects them from predators . They appease in these cloud - like fortress happily go down on on the plant sap .
succulent infested with mealybug will show symptoms of delayed growth and loss of turgidity or obesity . They could even become susceptible to disease due to the honeydew that these pestilence get .
While these insects can be easily identified because they mostly eat on the leave and stem , some mealybugs favour to assail the roots . This is why you need to have intercourse how to get rid of mealybugs on succulents .
Regardless of where they attack , mealybug can be easily root out by wiping with cotton dip in fray alcohol . A systemic insecticide can also be applied during the plant ’s growing season to further forbid cattle ranch ( 1,2,3 ) .
Aphids
Yellow , fleeceable , or grim in colour , these small-scale , soft - bodied insects feed on the plant sap causing scrawny growth and weakening . And like mealy bug , they also grow honeydew that attract ants and fungal infection .
Aphid infestation can be controlled just by washing the infested works or scratch using a cotton fiber swab dipped in alcohol . spray with diluted neem oil also works ( 4 ) .
Scale Insects
There are thousands of types of graduated table insects but the one that is most potential to infest succulents are the armored ones . These insect are covered with a plate armor that protects it from predator and pesticides .
Scale insects manifold very tight and can easily cover a whole collection if left uncontrolled . They can cause scrubby growth and weakening of the plant life . These pests flourish in saturnine surroundings and can be found on the underside of leafy succulents and other shady theatrical role of the works .
ordered series insects can be controlled the same way as mealybugs and aphid . just pass over the scale insects off with cotton fiber swabs dipped in alcohol or use a systemic pesticide applied when the works is growing proficiently ( 1,2,3 ) .
Red Spider Mites
These are very small , almost microscopic worm . They calculate like rubble molecule to the nude eye and can be easily looked over . Red spider jot can only be identified when they have procreate in number , at which point in time they will have formed webbing that can brood whole plants .
Infested succulent will make grow jaundiced to brown spots , particularly on young growths . Plants will also become unaccented and susceptible to disease
ruby spider soupcon do not wish humidness and can be easy eradicated by washing the works , however , succulents are also not a fan of being soaked so be careful not to plume your succulents . If you wish to use pesticide , note that spider mites require a specific miticide and will not be easy control with most insecticide ( 1,2 ) .
Eriophyid Mites
Also get it on as aloe mite , aloe wart mite , or aloe gall mite , eriophyid mite are very low , seeable only under a microscope . They are insect - like in appearance with two pairs of legs and disseminate easily through the wind .
Eriophyid mites targetAloeandHaworthiaplants . The presence of these speck is not easy to identify and the plague will only be diagnosed once the plant is expose symptom that are for good prejudicial .
Infested plant will parade galls stimulate by a chemical injected by these dirt ball . The galls will produce on the topside of the leaves , flowers , and new growths . On aloes , the galls can take shape Cancer the Crab - like structure that can severely disfigure the industrial plant .
Since the damage done by eriophyid mites is irreversible , the best way to control plague is to dispose of the infested works so the mites will not spread out to other plants . The program of miticide to plant in the neighborhood will also assist prevent further spread ( 5,6 ) .
Western Flower Thrips
These pests are very little , with the adult measuring only up to about 1 mm in length . Introduced in the UK in the late eighties , western flower thrip adults are yellow - chocolate-brown in color with narrow hairy laciniate backstage , but they are not the master perpetrator for the damage , their larva , which are half the size of the adult are .
Infecting mostlyLithopsplants , the larvae feed on the plant epidermis , causing blanket damage to the plant ’s beautiful stone - like leaf . Western efflorescence thrips have a inadequate liveliness cycle which means they can easily damage a whole succulent aggregation in favorable conditions .
These pesky louse can be controlled using insecticide or through biological control but often as a last resort . Insecticide intervention has to be done three time in weekly intervals to achieve good dominance of these pests ( 3 ) .
White Flies
These are small , white , flying insects which are mutual trouble for leafy succulents . They are very furtive , hiding under the leaves and can only be identified when the plant is touch .
As with other insect pestilence , they absorb on the industrial plant blackjack , causing terms to the plant and even allowing the fungal development and disease .
Eradication can be hard even through the applications programme of a worthy insect powder that some gardener repair to using biological control , e.g. ladybug and lacewing larvae ( 3 ) .
Fungus Gnats
Also have it off as sciarid flies , these blighter are a scourge to succulent , specially young plants . Fungus gnat has a similar appearance to yield rainfly . These louse thrive in humid conditions and are draw to decaying industrial plant matter .
fecund in fall , they lay their eggs in humus - rich grime where the larvae will think of and eat young plant roots , even the whole plant . They are difficult to identify unless present in prominent figure . Infested plant will show symptoms of stunting and loser to expand .
Although the diagnosing can be late , once identified , fungus gnat can be hold with insecticide or larvicide app ( 7 ) .
Vine Weevil
While the adult can cause damage to the leaves , the grubs of vine weevil are the root cause of damage to many lush collections . These grubs bear into the stems and provender on the plant life stem .
Crassula , Echeveria , andKalanchoeplants are the most susceptible to these pests . Infection is often diagnose latterly when the infected flora is completely rootless and topples over . Looking at the pot content will uncover writhe white larvae in the dirt .
Once diagnose , obliteration should be done immediately using soil drench treatments or you could just simply squish them ( 3 ) .
Slugs and Snails
These gastropods are a fussy problem for outdoor succulent . They can distribute apace especially during the showery season , attacking new maturation and flower buds .
They can be identified by bit mark around the edges of the succulent leaves and the unmistakable sludge trails they leave behind .
slug and snail can be easily eradicate as easy as they can be identified . They can be picked off by script or organically controlled using slug pellets with an iron orthophosphate . These baits are good for man and pets and will become plant food to the flora if not eat by the slugs , so there is no need for worry ( 1,2,3 ) .
Note : While many commercial pesticide can be used for other houseplants , they can be harmful and induce damage to succulent . Be sure to read the label and covering procedures before using them on your plants .
If unsure whether to expend fertilizer or not , a bandage - test can be done by applying the intersection to a modest area and watch if it will cause damage to the plant .
I hope you enjoy reading these succulent pestis control tips . To learn more about growing succulents , mark our article onsucculent propagation .
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ReferenceList :
( 1 ) Asakawa S. , Bagnasco J. , Buchanan S. “ Planting Designs for Cactus & Succulents : Indoor and Outdoor Projects for Unique , Easy - Care Plants – in All climate ” . Cool Springs Press . 2014 . PP 161 - 165 .
( 2 ) Bagnasco J. , Reidmuller Jr. B. 2017 . “ Success with succulent : Choosing , development , and Caring for Cactuses and Other Succulents ” Cool Springs Press . PP 86 - 87 .
( 3 ) Charles G. “ Cacti and succulent : An illustrated guide to the plants and their culture ” . Crowood . 2014 .
( 4 ) Singh D. , Davidson J. “ Introduction to Succulents and Cacti – Cacti Culture for Newbies ” . Mendon Cottage Books . 2019 . PP 55 - 63 .
( 5 ) Baldwin D. “ Designing with Succulents ” . Timber Press . 2017 . P. 139 ( aloe mite )
( 6 ) “ Aloe Mite ” . San Marcos Growers . 2020 .
( 7 ) Bailey F. , Allaway Z. “ Practical Cactus and Succulent Book : How to select , Nurture , and Display 200 Cacti and Succulents ” . Penguin . 2019 . phosphorus 215 .
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