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Plant pests and diseases are one of the most inevitable challenges that every gardener faces on daily basis. Just like other plants, succulent plants also get infested by different pests and diseases which sometimes cause numerous problems.
However since challenges can arise from time to time for succulents, we must be prepared to help them in getting over them as quickly as possible.
This article will cover some of the most common pests and diseases that affect succulent plants, as well as the best remedies for each of them.
Most Common Pests & Diseases You Should Know
Succulent are those plants that often have thick waxy cuticles that help to minimize water loss. The majority of succulent plants such as cacti tend to store water only in the stem and have no leaves or very small leaves, whereas others such as agaves store water mainly in the leaves.
But just like other plants, these types of plant experience the infestation of pests and diseases which affects their growth and healthiness.
We will discuss the most common pests and diseases that attack them. They include:
1. MealyBugs
Mealybugs are those tiny, fuzzy white things you notice crawling around your plant’s stems. Mealybugs can spread and damage numerous parts of the plant if their presence is ignored, possibly causing it to wither and die.
As a major threat to succulents, it is extremely difficult to get rid of and requires a lengthy battle.
You can notice the invasion of this pest on your plant when you start noticing insects swimming around any corner of your plant. This is so due to the water being released by the mealybug which insects tend to enjoy.
Another indicator that your plants are infected is when they start looking unhealthy for no obvious cause even with adequate light and water.
So therefore to prevent this mealybugs infestation, it is highly recommended that you try to keep your plant area dry, clean, and free of rotting leaves or flowers.
Remedies For MealyBugs
Below are the various ways that you can treat your plants. They are as follows:
A. Keep the infected plants away from other plants to put them in quarantine. Assess the healthy plants to test for mealybug signs.
B. Be prepared to treat your unhealthy plants by withdrawing them from their containers and providing them with good rinsing in water. Place it in heated, soapy water to clean.
Replant with fresh soil after allowing the plant and pot to dry out because it’s possible to find mealybug larvae in the old soil, so disposed of it.
C. Sprinkle neem oil and dish soap over the whole infected plant, or you can rub alcohol, particularly, isopropyl alcohol.
Alternatively, you could paint-brush mealybugs onto every surface through the method called Q-tip.
It’s important to be mindful not to leave the plant out in direct sunlight for too long because it could burn. This only applies if you are rubbing alcohol on the plant.
D. Check to see if any mealybugs remain by repeating the procedure on your plant for a few more days. Then, go ahead to spray once more every week as a preventative measure.
Following a couple of weeks of spraying, if the mealybugs haven’t resurfaced, then you can go ahead to put the plant back in its original spot and continue checking every three weeks.
2. Red Spider Mite
Red spider mites are tiny red mites that leave silky webs on plants that resemble spider webs. Because the spider mites are so tiny, it will require you to use an even magnifying glass to see them.
Whether a real spider or red spider mites are responsible for the web you notice on your plants, there is still a need for you to verify it. If it is caused by spider mites, you will see dark spots on the plants and the browning of the new growth.
When you notice these signs, you must deal with the red spider mites or they will continue to attack the entire outer layer of your succulents if ignored, after which, it could become impossible for the plants to survive.
Remedies For Red Spider Mites
A. Remove the contaminated plants from healthy plants as soon as possible and put them in quarantine. Examine other healthy plants with a microscope to check for red spider mite traces.
B. Seeing as red spider mites prefer hot, dry conditions rather than moist conditions, watering and spraying your succulents can help prevent mite infestations.
C. You should also try to purchase a miticide, a chemical pesticide that is designed for use on plant mites which you will spray on your succulents for a few days.
To avoid more infestation, you should consider spraying it once a week and also check to see if any red mites are still present.
After a few weeks of spraying, move the plant back to its original position and continue checking every three weeks if the red mites haven’t returned.
D. If you reside in a warm climate, the mites will increase more rapidly due to the high temperature. As such, you will need to apply the miticide to your plants more frequently.
Most importantly, in the first few weeks after treatment, be mindful enough to avoid exposing the plants outside to full light.
3. Snails
Snails can be spotted on the side of your plant pots, under a squishy plant, or even under a spiky cactus.
They can be quite harmful if they appear in large numbers and start feasting on your plants’ tender new growth, and flower buds, or even tear off large pieces of tissue from the plant’s body.
When snails crawl by your plants, they leave a slime trail behind that dries off and glitters in the sunlight, making it simple to detect if they were in your garden overnight.
Read Also: Are Snails Good For plants?
Remedies For Snails
A. When you spot one of these snails nearby your garden or other plants, you can hand-pick it. After doing so, to ensure that none is still present, you should try to carefully inspect the spaces below your pots and any shaded outside places.
B. Use snail bait to get rid of any snails that are harming your plants in significant numbers.
C. You should repeat these treatments are required, especially in warm, humid weather when snails can reappear.
4. Mice
The possibility of rodents (eg rats…etc) damaging your plants should worry you if you grow succulents outdoors. Your succulents will be often eaten by mice or chopped into tiny pieces by them.
This is also why, after just one night of being used as mice food, your plants may very well be damaged and deformed.
Preventive Measures For Mice
Deploy mouse traps close to your garden’s perimeter walls.
There are some other available options, including poison baits, traditional traps that kill rats, and live traps that can capture them while still alive.
If you don’t want to use deadly measures to keep rodents away, you may also use some wire mesh to cover your succulents, although it isn’t the most appealing option.
Furthermore, it might also be beneficial to scare off mice by introducing a cat into the area.
5. Scale
Scales are the names for several bug species that resemble waxy, brown scales that are flat or slightly mounded on plant leaves and stems.
The insects feast on the plant sap and through doing so, they can spread viral infections to other plants as they hide behind the protective scale.
When a scale insect is removed from the plant, the protective coating may be left behind, leaving a scar on the plant tissue. Even in the areas of the plant that are experiencing new development, scale insects multiply quickly and can quickly cover the whole surface of a succulent.
Remedies For Scale
A. As soon as you notice the signs of scales on the plant, remove them by using your fingers, a pair of tiny chopsticks, tweezers, or a water hose. As you do so, take care not to damage your plant.
B. Sprinkle a systemic insecticide on your plant every week for a few weeks to prevent them from coming back. Through the application of this remedy, the herb will automatically turn scale insects poisonous.
6. Aphid
The greenfly and blackfly species known as aphids are usually seen on garden plants as they have a high rate of reproduction.
They absorb plant sap and create sweet honeydew, which may foster the development of black mold.
Aphids are commonly detected on succulent and cactus blooms, flower buds, and fragile new growth.
So when you start noticing the crowding of ants in your plant area, then, your concern should be on how aphids will damage your succulents.
Read Also: How Do I Get Rid of Aphids on Petunias
Remedies For Aphids
By using a high-pressure garden hose a few times, you may get rid of aphids rapidly.
When performing this task, take care not to damage your plants.
If the plant infestation with aphids persists, you should consider spraying the plants with soapy water or any systemic pesticide.
Furthermore, getting rid of any survivors can need so many treatments over several days.
7. Rot
The rotting of the roots and stems of succulents and cacti may occur due to the cold or wet condition brought on by a fungal infection or overwatering.
Rot is more likely to happen when there is a high level of moisture in the plants’ growing environment because bacteria and fungi flourish in this kind of circumstance. The plant tissues that are rotting usually turn red, brown, or black.
The decaying parts are typically slimy and wet, and they have an unpleasant smell. So therefore, when you see any noticeable changes on the plant, there is no way to remedy it because rot often develops from the root up.
Controlling Measures For Rot
A. If the plant is only beginning to decay in a single area, cut off the complete rotting portion. After that, leave the plant’s healthy portion to develop further.
B. Cut the stem well above the rotting area, if you can, and propagate it. Re-rooting and growing into a brand-new, healthy plant may be accomplished on occasion.
C. To prevent the leaves from absorbing moisture from the soil and turning to rot, avoid placing the bodies of your succulents too close to the ground.
D. Other important things to be mindful of include: overwatering your succulents, increasing ventilation, and keeping the plants out of cold, moist environments.
Always ensure that your soil is permeable, well-drained, and does not retain water for a long period.
FAQs
1. What Are The Most Common Succulent Diseases?
The most common diseases are root rot, soft rot, dry rot, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.
The best way to avoid such problems is to inspect your plants regularly, act quickly if you do spot a problem, and keep a close eye on them afterward.
2. What Is The Best Pesticide For Succulents?
Among all of the pest controls recommended for use on succulents, Imidacloprid is the most intense one.
3. How Do You Prevent Succulent Pests?
There are various ways that you can prevent succulent pests. They include:
A. Remove dead leaves, so bugs don’t have a place to breed and hide.
B. Aim to keep your succulents dry.
C. Don’t reuse soil or put dead leaves from infected plants into the compost pile.
D. Keep your succulents strong during the growing season by using a mild and balanced fertilizer.
4. How Do You Treat A Succulent Disease?
You can either use an all-purpose fungicide or simply spray your succulent with a mild solution of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), using ½ teaspoon per gallon of water.
5. What Is The Best Pesticide For Mealybugs On Succulents?
Isopropyl Alcohol kills Mealybugs on succulents and evaporates quickly.
6. Can I Spray Fertilizer On Succulents?
Liquid fertilizers for succulents usually come in spray or dropper bottles. You simply apply them on the plant’s leaves or the soil, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Just make sure that your succulent leaves do not end up dripping with liquid fertilizer, as overdosage may do more harm than good.
7. What Kills Mites On Succulents?
The best way to treat the spider mites is to isolate them and flush down the whole plant with water. If possible spray them with water at high pressure. The high-pressure water spray will surely dislodge the spider mites from your plants.
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Conclusion
If you have taken your time to read through this article, we hope that the information and guideline that we have provided for you have helped solve your worries.
However, you don’t necessarily need to wait for these pests and diseases to invade your garden, you should try as much as possible to tackle any one of them from the early stage.
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