How to Get Rid of Mealybugs on Succulents: Master a Few Steps and It's No Problem at All

Many people are afraid of scale insects and root mealybugs. Once they get them, their heads spin and they don't know what to do. Some just throw the plants away. In fact, they are not that terrifying. They are very fragile. As long as you master the right methods and put them into practice, they are very easy to clear out and kill. Strategically, you need to despise the enemy. In summer, succulents need to be kept on a water-restricted regimen, and combined with intense sunlight, after several consecutive sunny days the soil becomes quite dry. This kind of environment is relatively prone to scale insects, so in summer everyone should squeeze out a bit of time to observe their succulents more. If there is a problem and bugs appear, it is best to find out in time!

Scale insects are very easy to kill in the early stage of reproduction. Once they form a scale shell, they become impervious to oil and salt, and then it gets difficult. I think there are two seasons: in early spring when the weather turns warm and plants are growing, which is right now, and second, at the end of summer when autumn begins and plants are growing. But if they are in a greenhouse, it feels like they are always around. How do you kill scale insects? First do physical pest removal. Use tweezers or a toothpick to pierce and pop the scale insects, or dilute alcohol and wipe down the succulent, cleaning away both the bugs and their secretions. Then observe the condition of the succulent. Succulents that still look perky and succulents in poor condition need to be handled separately.

Scale insects are actually a type of small insect, and most of their bodies have a waxy secretion. Scale insects are one of the most common pests on succulents. They often cluster on the stems and leaves of plants, sucking the sap from the stems and leaves, causing the stems and leaves to wither, and in some cases even killing the whole plant. In addition, they can also induce sooty mold, which is extremely harmful to plants. Scale insects have a strong reproductive capacity. Eggs hatch into nymphs, and after a short period of crawling, they form scale insects. The high-temperature, high-humidity environment of summer is the peak period for this pest. If scale insects are found on one pot of succulents, it is best to spray all the succulents for pest control, carrying out pest control on a broad scale to prevent any bugs from being left behind.

For succulents in good condition, use medication directly to kill the pests. After mixing according to the instructions, drench the roots of the succulents. In summer, medication for succulents should also be applied in the evening or at night. After root drenching, be sure to ensure the environment has good ventilation. For the next few days, the succulents should not be exposed to sunlight, but ventilation must be maintained. If a succulent with pests is in poor condition, be careful about whether its root system has been bitten. It is recommended to dig the succulent out, inspect and trim the roots, and do not keep any parts that have turned black or rotted. If a succulent with pests is in poor condition, be careful about whether its root system has been bitten. It is recommended to dig the succulent out, inspect and trim the roots, and do not keep any parts that have turned black or rotted. Use a mixture of "Carbendazim" and "Xiaobaiyao" to soak the succulent. Soaking for 1 hour or even half a day is fine; it depends on the variety and size of the succulent.

The following methods for killing scale insects can also be used as reference. Use 75% alcohol. Dip a calligraphy brush in an appropriate amount of alcohol and repeatedly wipe the affected areas, and you can remove the scale insects, and remove them very cleanly and thoroughly. If the leaves are too dense and hard to wipe, you can directly pour alcohol over the severely affected leaf core area. Generally speaking, any that get soaked will die. After observing for a few days, if you still find more, keep using alcohol. You can also wash them away with water. Use a spray bottle, or connect a hose to the tap with an adjustable nozzle, and wash the scale insects away. Although this cannot cure the problem at the root, it can still effectively control the pest. This method is relatively practical for succulents that are about to be repotted and have their roots washed.

But something to pay special attention to is that alcohol must not be dripped directly onto the leaves. Generally speaking, succulents that are directly drenched with alcohol will be damaged, and in severe cases may even die. Summer is the peak season for scale insects, so many succulent growers have already discovered traces of scale insects, and some have probably suffered no small losses. Scale insects are known as the number one of the three major piercing-sucking pests in landscaping. They have the strongest vitality and are also one of the hardest to eradicate.

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