Succulent Mealybug Eradication: A Female Renovator and Succulent Lover Gets It Done in One Go

Editor / Succulent Plant Hub

The editor-in-chief wants to give a thumbs up to every girl who has ever rolled up her sleeves and transformed a balcony. You are all really amazing. Don't blame the editor-in-chief for playing favorites and not praising the boys, haha. By the way, there's more good stuff later, so be sure to read to the end~

After finishing my succulents, I feel like a total tough girl. I completed all the installation work myself, probably screwing in hundreds of screws by hand. Today I adjusted the middle shelf again. Including the ground level, there are a full 6 tiers.

In other words, I built a 6-tier little succulent garden for my succulents on my own balcony! Thinking about it makes me a little proud

First, let's look at how it was before

Since I started growing succulents, it has been changing bit by bit. The succulents look like they are neatly living in a collective dormitory of concrete pots.

Later, iron shelves gradually appeared

And there was some sunlight too

At this point it still looked very rudimentary, but anyone who grows succulents will definitely understand. I was going to transform them, and fight like a tough girl!

First, I put together a pretty decent flower rack for the succulents using 6 small wooden racks. I reinforced them all with thick tape, so they are especially sturdy. Once filled with succulents, they transformed gorgeously.

During the day they look like this

At night the style is like this,

Then I added more tiers for them. Now they live in a 6-story luxury succulent home! It was assembled using 8 wooden racks. Counting the ground level, there are 6 tiers. Can you tell?

I added light tubes for them, but they were always not bright enough, so I bought another set of supplemental grow lights. They are currently speeding their way here~

During the day, it looks like this. This corner is very satisfying

That's the end of the balcony for now. The editor-in-chief thinks most people who grow succulents are both cultured and skilled, and the girls are especially awesome. The editor-in-chief even feels a little ashamed. I've seen so many girls move house and build wooden racks, and they can even handle hundreds of screws by themselves.

People really do have endless potential when they are doing what they love. In that case, the editor-in-chief's old-fashioned view that girls can't even twist open a bottle cap is really too outdated!

But then again, a renovator who can't catch bugs is not a good succulent lover. After all, when facing a bunch of disgusting bugs, never mind girls, even the editor-in-chief's first reaction is refusal!

Of course, that was a long time ago, haha. Now when the editor-in-chief sees bugs, there is absolutely no mercy. So next, let's look at this succulent lover's shared experience with mealybug prevention and control~

For the several medicines mentioned below, there will be instructions when you buy them, and specific dosages are included! The concentration of "Jiebizhi" needs to be controlled well. If it "burns the succulents," that would be bad. For the others, I don't seem to have noticed any particularly obvious differences, more or less.

1. Don't worry too much!

2. First remove the bugs and their secretions (you can use tweezers to remove them and then wipe with alcohol (it's also okay not to use alcohol)), then check whether there are signs of rot or blackening on the stems and roots.

3. For any blackened or rotted parts you find, use a sharp knife to remove them until healthy "flesh" is exposed at the stem or root. (If repotting is not needed, start reading from item 7.)

4. If you are going to repot, after trimming the roots, soak the succulent in a mixture of "Duojunling" and "Xiaobaiyao" for 1 hour or half a day, it doesn't matter. It depends on the variety and size of the "succulent." Take it out and dry the roots (for new succulents and sick succulents whose roots I've trimmed, I usually dry them for at least two or three days).

5. Pot them. When planting, use dry soil (or soil with very slight moisture). Mix "Xiaoziyao," "Xiaobaiyao," and "Duojunling" into the soil so that after the succulent absorbs them, it carries toxicity and the bugs cannot survive. This is mainly for prevention.

6. After the potting recovery period, I usually give water only after a week (sometimes a bit longer, depending on the size and condition of the succulent). Add "Huhuashen" to the water and use it to drench the roots.

7. If not repotting, depending on how severe the mealybug infestation is, I choose different external treatments. After wiping with alcohol, for severe cases spray "Jiebizhi." For ordinary cases, spray and root-drench with "Huhuashen" (when the weather is too hot, be cautious with root drenching! After drenching, make sure there is especially good ventilation! Ventilation!)

After spraying medicine on areas that have been treated with a knife, I apply "Duojunling." Then I also evenly shallowly bury "Xiaoziyao" in the soil.

8. If there is a large-scale mealybug outbreak! First follow the corresponding steps. Then spray "Jiebizhi" over a large area (I feel this medicine is strong). Wear a mask.

If there are children at home, keep them away! After using this medicine, do not expose them to sunlight for a few days, but maintain ventilation!

9. Can the previous soil and pots still be used? I usually wash the pots clean, then soak or rinse them with the medicine used for soaking succulents (Xiaobaiyao plus Duojunling), let them dry, and continue using them. As for the soil, don't keep it.

Special reminder: If there are young children at home, be sure to put all kinds of medicines or fertilizers somewhere children cannot find or reach!

1. Ventilation and breathability. Reject humid and stuffy environments. (Everyone should have noticed that mealybugs do not like dry environments. Most places where mealybugs appear have insufficient ventilation, and some are even humid.)

2. For newly bought succulents that need repotting, be sure to check the leaves, stems, and roots. If you find bugs, deal with them immediately (how to deal with them is explained later) to avoid spreading. For how to deal with ones that are not being repotted, it is explained above.

The above experience is also this succulent lover's personal experience. Everyone can refer to it. If you have different opinions, you can also speak up and discuss, after all, the power of the masses is mighty!

Last but not least, let's wrap up with a set of beautiful photos from the author~

Succulent lovers, hurry and move over to the new community. The editor-in-chief is waiting for you there!

*All illustrations in the article are from the original author.

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