Common Pests on Succulents
There are several different pests that are a constant threat to our dear houseplants. Some are more serious than others. Most of them seem to have a fairly effective remedy, or at least a method to reduce their presence. Most plants are more sensitive to pests during the winter season when their natural defense is weaker.
Get rid of Fungus gnats
There are plenty of pesticides to fight gnats and other pests, but the best defense is to dry out the soil. Also, don’t use toxic chemicals in your home or garden unless there is no other alternative. One natural solution is to buy Nematodes, miniature parasites that will attack, eat and terminate the larvae. I haven’t tried it, since it was hard to find, but it’s supposed to be effective. I have not had much luck with homemade remedies like detergent or peroxide. I keep on having recurring fights with fungus gnats, and they still haunt my dreams…
Fungus gnats are usually not a big deal and disappear once the soil dries out. However, if you have young cactus seedlings, who are super sensitive to literally everything, you are in big trouble. As fungus gnats lay eggs in the soil, the larvae will feast on any organic material, including the root of the cactus seedling. The problem is that young cactus seedlings usually have just one root, much smaller than human hair. Needless to say, if an army of larvae is given the chance. They won’t hesitate to eliminate your entire batch of cactus seedlings before you know what happened. The seedlings will simply disappear from the surface of the soil like melted ice cubes a hot summer day. Along with an increase of tiny irritating insects flying around everywhere, seemingly appearing from nowhere.
Eliminate Mealybugs
Fight the mealybygs by putting the infested plant in the sun since they don’t like direct sunlight. Take a toothpick and go for a hunt. You can eliminate most of them, but rarely all of them. They are hard to get rid of completely, and always seem to reappear. Try to spray the plant with diluted detergent or soap for a while. Or try rubbing the mealybugs with a 70% solution of isopropyl alcohol, according to a study made by the University of California. I have never tried this, but I put my trust in the brilliant minds of academia.
Mealybugs are some nasty-looking insects, but fairly harmless in my experience. They are tiny white soft beetles, often seen as sticky clusters somewhere on the plants. Usually under a leaf, around the root system below the soil, between the spines, or any other place they may fancy. They often come with newly purchased plants from garden centers, so carefully examine your plant before you buy it.
A branch infested with mealybugs above
Terminate Spider mites
How to get rid of spider mites is easily done with a proven method, which is to spray the infested area with a soap solution repeatedly. Another tactic that is very popular on online forums is Neem oil, which seems to work really well for many gardeners. I have never had any encounter with these guys, but I can’t wait for some action.
