As a horticulture and landscaping expert , I can tell you that succulents can indeed attract microbe . While these plants are by and large known for their resiliency and ability to flourish in dry stipulation , they are not immune to louse pests . Although bacterial and fungous diseases make by overwatering are more common problems with succulents , pests like ordered series , mealy bugs , root mealy hemipteron , spider pinch , and fungus gnats can still pose a menace .
One of the most coarse pests that succulent may pull in is exfoliation . These tiny , ellipse - shaped insects can attach themselves to the leaves and stems of the plant , sucking out the sap and causing the plant to weaken . Scale insect often have a hard , protective covering that resemble a shell or scale , hence their name . If leave alone untreated , scale infestations can disseminate quickly and cause significant damage to your succulent .
Mealy germ are another vulgar pest that can be attracted to succulents . These soft - bodied insects have a white , cotton fiber - similar appearance and tend to flock in the foliage axils or along the root word of the plant life . Like scale insects , gritty hemipteran feed on the sap of the industrial plant , leading to stunted emergence and even death if not addressed promptly .
Root mealy germ , as the name propose , are a eccentric of mealy bug that specifically infests the roots of succulent . They can be more difficult to detect as they are hidden underground , but their mien can be identified by the presence of a white , powdery means on the ascendant . Root mealy bugs can get root rot and lead to the decline of the entire plant life if pass on untreated .
Spider mites are less common but can still infest succulents . These tiny arachnids are often found on the bottom of leaves and can cause yellowing , stippling , and finally foliage drop . They reproduce quickly , so it ’s essential to accost a spider mite infestation as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to other plants .
Fungus gnats are another pest that can be attracted to succulent . These small flies position their orchis in the dampish grunge of the flora , and the larvae provender on dilapidate constitutive matter and plant root . While fungus gnats themselves do not cause significant equipment casualty to succulents , their presence can be annoying and indicate other underlying issues , such as overwatering or poor drain .
In my personal experience , I have encountered all of these gadfly while caring for succulents . I have found that bar is cardinal in debar infestations . Regularly inspecting your plant , particularly the undersurface of leaf and the dirt , can help you catch any potential gadfly job early on on . to boot , sustain a healthy growing environment , including right lacrimation technique , good flow of air , and adequate sunshine , can avail dissuade pests from settle on your succulent .
If you do mark an infestation , there are various method acting you’re able to employ to manage and verify the plague . These let in manually withdraw the insects with a cotton swab dip in rubbing alcoholic beverage , using insecticidal soap or oils specifically formulate for succulents , or introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs or predatory pinch to raven on the pest .
While succulent are generally low - upkeep plants , they can still attract bugs . Being cognisant of the common pests that may overrun succulents and ask proactive measures to prevent and address plague can help ensure the wellness and vitality of your succulent collection .
Caroline Bates
