Don't Panic When Succulents Get Bugs: One Trick to Kill Them All

Common Mealybugs

Anyone who grows succulents has probably seen mealybugs. Mealybugs are plump, white, and seem to have tiny fuzz on their bodies, making them look especially disgusting. Mealybugs mainly cling to the leaves and stems of succulents, are very easy to spot, and spread very easily.

Treatment methods:

1. For a small number of mealybugs, we can stab them to death with a toothpick or pick them out with tweezers. Note that after handling them, you should clean the succulent's leaves to prevent the toxic fluids left by the mealybugs from harming the succulent.

2. When mealybugs cluster in large numbers, we can use pesticide spray. Mix Huahuashen with water at a 1:200 ratio and spray. Spray about once a week. Note that after spraying the pesticide, place the plant in a cool, ventilated spot for 4-5 days before moving it to a brightly lit place.

3. If you have children or pregnant women at home and don't want to use pesticides, we can place the succulent under running clean water, then use a magnifying glass and a needle to stab them one by one, then clean it up.

Root Mealybugs

Root mealybugs are extremely contagious, generally live in the soil, and are not easy to spot. Usually we only find them when repotting and turning the soil.

Treatment methods:

1. If you find root mealybugs when repotting, you need to immediately discard the original soil or leave the soil outdoors in the sun for several months before using it again.

2. Wash all the plant's roots clean, then trim them briefly. Soak them in clean water for half an hour, then place them in a ventilated spot to dry for 1-2 days. Once completely dry, repot. Note that the original flowerpot should be discarded or thoroughly cleaned before reuse.

3. If you find the above methods too troublesome, we can also use pesticides. Currently the most effective pesticides are Jiebizhi, Supusha, and Furadan. It is worth noting that these pesticides can only kill the bugs, not the eggs. So if you want to use pesticides, you need to use them continuously.

Aphids

Aphids, many succulent growers have probably also encountered them. Aphids are tiny, somewhat transparent, and are a fairly common succulent pest.

Treatment methods:

1. When there are few aphids, you can remove them by hand. For example, pick them up with a toothpick or remove them with tweezers.

2. If there are many aphids, you can rinse the entire succulent under water, then disinfect the succulent. At the same time, sterilize and disinfect the soil, or simply replace the soil.

3. Similarly, we can choose to use pesticide spray. Common pesticides for dealing with aphids include Bayer imidacloprid from Germany or an 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate solution diluted 1500 times.

Spider Mites

Spider mites use their mouthparts to suck the sap from the tender stems and leaves of succulents. The affected stems and leaves develop yellow-brown spots or turn yellow, wither, and drop off, and the spots produced remain permanently.

Treatment methods:

1. After discovering spider mites on a succulent, you should first improve ventilation and apply low-temperature measures. If there are not many spider mites, you can stab them to death with a toothpick or needle, then wash the succulent.

2. If there are many spider mites and you don't want to use pesticides, we can spray a laundry detergent solution with a laundry detergent to water ratio of 1:250, or spray a soap solution with a soap to water ratio of 1:50.

3. Similarly, we can also spray pesticides on the succulent. Using a 40% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate solution diluted 1000-1500 times is very effective at killing spider mites.

Have you all learned these pest-killing methods?

Get to work and kill those bugs!

May all your succulents stay free from pests and grow plump and chubby!