A Detailed Guide to Succulent Pest Control Methods and Cultivation Techniques

Succulents are actually a general term for a group of plants. Succulent plants refer to those in which at least one of the three organs - root, stem, or leaf - is capable of storing large amounts of water. This trait allows such plants to survive independently for a period of time away from an external water source when the soil water environment deteriorates and the roots cannot obtain the necessary water from the soil. Unlike most plants, succulents do not require a certain level of gardening expertise to keep alive. Newly acquired succulents usually already have a basic shape, and just a little watering is enough for them to survive safely. In addition, with the heavy pressures of modern life, people need some healing, adorable things to give themselves a sense of satisfaction in simple living, and most succulents look cute and charming, so naturally more and more people are growing succulents.

However, in the process of growing succulents, people often run into all kinds of headache-inducing pest problems. So how should succulents be dewormed? Qinnong Net here introduces five methods for controlling pests on succulents:

Method 1: Use tweezers

Mealybugs are the most common pests. They attach to the leaves of succulent plants and survive by sucking the sap from the leaves of succulent plants. Fortunately, they can be seen with the naked eye. They are white. If you find them, you can directly pinch each one with tweezers until it bursts, then spray with medication to achieve complete elimination.

Method 2: Use alcohol

Alcohol can evaporate the water inside the insects' bodies, destroying the pests' bodies and causing them to die. However, note that for alcohol to achieve a pest-killing effect, its concentration is very important. Too low or too high will not work. The best concentration is about 75% to achieve a pest-killing effect.

Method 3: Replace the surface soil

If you find very small white insect eggs on succulent plants, it is best to replace the top 3 cm of soil with new soil. This will remove most of the pests and also reduce pest growth. Note that after replacing with new soil, sprinkle a layer of white lime on its surface, which can thoroughly eliminate the reproduction and survival of pests.

Method 4: Soaking the pot

Put the entire pot of succulent plants into water, with the water level at most above the flower pot. Leave it for 10 minutes. 10 minutes is enough to kill the pests, but these 10 minutes are not a big deal for the succulent plants. However, pay special attention that succulent plants taken out of the water must be placed in a well-ventilated place.

Method 5: Use medication

Dig out or cut off the areas eroded by pests, then use insecticide. However, note that succulent plants sprayed with insecticide should be placed in sunlight for a few days. When spraying the medication, try as much as possible not to let the medication spray onto other items, to avoid trouble in handling.

The above are the five methods for deworming succulents compiled by Qinnong Net for everyone. Compared with pest control methods for other plants, deworming succulents is relatively much easier. The reason succulents get pests in a home growing environment is usually caused by unclean potting soil. Therefore, when growing succulents, everyone should pay attention to cleaning the potting soil to reduce the occurrence of succulent pest problems.