Reasons and Solutions for Leaf Drop and Pest Infestation in Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' Succulents

Leaf drop in succulents is a very common phenomenon. Most of the time, when the succulent leaves are overly mature and the plant is lush with branches and foliage, it will automatically shed some leaves as a means of propagation. But what is the reason when the leaves drop while the plant's branches and leaves are not yet dense and the leaves are still small?

What to Do When Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' Drops Leaves

Apart from shading during the high temperatures of summer, give it ample light in other seasons, but do not expose it to excessive direct sun; avoid direct light and let it receive diffused light.

In spring and autumn, keep the potting soil moist, but be careful not to let water accumulate. In winter, water sparingly; in summer, keep the potting soil dry.

Fertilize once every 2—3 weeks. The nitrogen content must not be too high, and liquid fertilizer should be dilute rather than concentrated.

Repot once every 1—2 years. The potting soil should be fertile and well aerated. When repotting, prune the old roots appropriately.

Reasons and Solutions for Pest Infestation on the Leaves of Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' Succulents

1. Red spider mites

Symptoms: Red spider mites generally use their mouthparts to suck the sap from young stems and leaves. Yellow-brown spots will appear on the branches and leaves of Echeveria 'Fozu Lian', or the leaves will turn yellow and drop, and the scars will remain permanently.

Generally, if there are spider webs on the underside of the leaves and small red or white insects, then they are red spider mites.

Control method: Increase the environmental humidity to reduce and prevent the spread of the symptoms. You can use a 1000-1500 times dilution of 40% dicofol to kill them by absorption, or use abamectin.

2. Mealybugs

Symptoms: They suck the sap of stems and leaves, causing poor plant growth and eventually death. In early spring, mealybugs multiply in large numbers, but they are concentrated on only a few plants.

Control method: When there are few, remove them with a brush. You can spray with an 800-1000 times dilution of Supracide. Adding a certain amount of carbofuran to the soil can prevent mealybugs.

3. Whiteflies

Symptoms:

Whiteflies pierce and suck sap on the underside of leaves, causing the leaves to yellow and drop, and they can also induce sooty mold. When whiteflies appear, there will be large patches of black powder on the stems and leaves, affecting the ornamental effect.

Control method: Maintain ventilation. In the early stage, you can spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate. You can also spray with a 500 times dilution of malathion or a 1000 times dilution of dimethoate mixed with dichlorvos. Two days after spraying, use a strong water stream to wash away the dead insects together with the black powder.

4. Aphids

Symptoms: They suck the sap of the plant's tender leaves, causing slow plant growth. The secretions of aphids also attract ants.

Control method: If there are few, capture them manually. In the early stage, spray with a 1500 times dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate.

Diseases of Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' and Control Methods

1. Fusarium wilt

Symptoms: A bacterial disease that invades through wounds on the roots of Echeveria 'Fozu Lian', causing reddish-brown lesions on the roots and stems, and the plant will rot and die within a few days.

Control method: Before potting, spray with a 1000 times solution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder for prevention. After it dries, apply sulfur powder for disinfection.

2. Anthracnose

Symptoms: A fungal disease that mostly occurs in hot and humid summers, especially during the plum rain season, and can also be caused by excessive nitrogen fertilizer. In the early stage, small brown spots appear on the leaves, then expand into round or oval shapes. The lesions gradually dry up, and in severe cases the plant withers.

Control method: Pay attention to ventilation and lower the indoor air temperature and humidity. Then spray with a 1000 times dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder, or spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl, 60% anthracnose Fumei, carbendazim, and others.

3. Rust disease

Symptoms: Large rust-brown lesions appear on the epidermis of the stems, spreading upward from the base of the branches and stems. In severe cases, the stems are covered with lesions.

Control method: Prune the branches and stems, remove the diseased branches, then spray with a 2000-3000 times dilution of 12.5% diniconazole wettable powder.

4. Physiological diseases

Symptoms: Due to harsh growing conditions, intense sunlight and exposure, insufficient light, sudden low temperatures, and long-term water shortage, the epidermis of stems and leaves becomes scorched and browned, growth points become leggy, frostbite occurs, and the tips shrink, and so on.

Control method: Improve the cultivation conditions and pay attention to cultivation methods.

The Benefits of Echeveria 'Fozu Lian'

1. Ornamental value

Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' is also called Guanyin Lian. Its fleshy leaves live up to the name, growing in a ring and forming a rosette shape. The leaves are flat and slender. Under ample light, the leaf tips and leaf margins develop a very gorgeous purplish-red color, making it highly ornamental.

2. Air purification

The succulent Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' has a slight effect of absorbing toxic gases, making it very eco-friendly to place indoors. The succulent 'Fozu Lian' also has a slight humidifying effect, purifying the air environment.

3. Medicinal value

Besides ornamental and air-purifying uses, Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' also has relatively high medicinal and health value. Drinking tea made from Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' can refresh the mind, but pay attention to the dosage; excessive use can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. The extract of fresh leaves has cooling and astringent effects, and can be used to relieve skin pain. Adding it to bath water can nourish the skin.

Echeveria 'Fozu Lian' can also be used to treat throat ulcers, oral conditions, and bronchitis, and it also has effects on skin diseases such as burns, scalds, mosquito and insect bites, corns, and shingles.

Regarding problems such as succulent leaf drop and pest infestation, the text above has already described them in detail. In the process of growing Echeveria 'Fozu Lian', we will face some problems that may affect our enthusiasm for cultivation, but once it is grown successfully with perfect appearance, it will likewise add a lot of confidence for us. Cultivation and life are both like this: only with joy and sorrow is it interesting.