Mealybugs are a common pest that can quickly infest and damage succulent plants. Their fluffy, cotton-like egg sacs and bodies allow them to hide in hard to reach places on the plant. Left untreated, mealybugs will suck nutrients from the plant, stunt growth and potentially kill the succulent.
Getting rid of mealybugs requires persistence and an integrated approach using safe and effective control methods. This comprehensive guide covers how to identify, treat, and prevent mealybug infestations on succulents.
Identifying Mealybugs on Succulents
Mealybugs tend to gather and leave telltale signs:
- White cottony or waxy deposits on leaves, stems, and in leaf axils (where the leaf attaches to the stem)
- Misshapen, stunted, or dropped leaves due to feeding damage
- Honeydew secretions that coat plants and promote black sooty mold growth
- If gentle pressure is applied, adult mealybugs may be found underneath the white deposits
Inspect new plants closely before bringing them home to avoid introducing pests Check existing plants regularly for early signs of infestation Mealybugs love to hide under dense rosettes. Isolate and treat infested plants immediately to contain the infestation.
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs: Treatment Methods
A combination of mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods works best against heavy mealybug infestations:
Remove Visible Mealybugs
Use a soft brush or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to scrub off visible egg sacs and mealybugs from leaves and stems. Then spray the plant with water to wash off honeydew and prevent leaf burn from alcohol.
Apply Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soaps containing potassium salts of fatty acids disrupt cell membranes and kill mealybugs on contact. Spray all plant parts twice weekly until infestation clears. Avoid application in hot sun.
Use Neem Oil
Derived from the neem tree, this botanical insecticide smothers and poisons mealybugs when applied to leaves, stems, and soil. Apply neem oil spray every 7-14 days for moderate infestations.
Employ Isopropyl Alcohol
A 70% isopropyl alcohol solution kills mealybugs on contact. Spot treat using a spray bottle or swab concentrated areas. Repeat every few days until mealybugs are gone. Let alcohol dry before watering or placing in sunlight.
Apply Horticultural Oil
These highly refined petroleum oils suffocate mealybug eggs and nymphs. Coat plant parts for effective control. Oils can burn succulent foliage in high heat so test on a small area first.
Introduce Ladybugs
Natural predators like ladybugs (available online or at garden centers) feed on mealybugs. Release them onto infested plants and they’ll get to work eating the pests. Avoid applying chemical treatments if using ladybugs.
Systemic Insecticides
Systemic insecticides containing imidacloprid are taken up by the plant’s roots and make its tissues toxic to sucking insects feeding on it. Use as a soil drench per label instructions for heavy infestations. Exercise caution when using around edible plants.
Preventing Mealybugs on Succulents
Prevention is critical to avoid mealybug damage:
- Quarantine and treat new plants before placing them near other plants
- Isolate and promptly treat infested plants
- Remove dead leaves and debris where pests can hide
- Allow soil to dry out between waterings; avoid overwatering
- Provide good air circulation and sunlight exposure
- Apply horticultural oil or systemic insecticide sparingly as a preventive
- Check plants regularly for signs of white cottony deposits or honeydew
- Keep beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs around to prey on pests
With diligence and using multiple approaches simultaneously, mealybug populations can be controlled and eradicated before they seriously compromise the plant.
FAQs About Controlling Mealybugs on Succulents
How do I know if my succulent has mealybugs?
Look for white cottony masses, waxy coatings, or actual small oval insects on leaves and stems. Also inspect for honeydew secretions, deformed growth, dropped leaves, and visible damage.
What is the fastest way to get rid of mealybugs?
Using an alcohol-soaked cotton swab can quickly kill visible mealybugs. For heavier infestations, apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oils to rapidly penetrate egg masses and kill nymphs on contact.
How do you kill mealybugs on cacti?
Use a soft brush and 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove mealybugs from cacti without damaging the spines and epidermis. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils also work well and can penetrate crevices between spines to kill hidden mealybugs.
Will mealybugs kill succulents?
If left unchecked, extensive mealybug damage can eventually kill a succulent. The parasites feed on sap, weakening and distorting new growth. Necrotic spots, leaf drop, and stunting occur in severe cases. Eventually the cumulative loss of nutrients results in plant death.
Should I throw away a succulent with mealybugs?
Not necessarily. With persistence using appropriate insecticides, most succulents with mealybugs can recover fully. Discard only if the infestation is severe and plant decline is too far gone. Completely destroy and seal discarded plants to prevent spread.
How do I permanently get rid of mealybugs on indoor plants?
A combination of methods is required: removing visible mealybugs, applying insecticidal soaps multiple times, keeping plants isolated until pests are gone, and preventing new infestations. It often takes 1-2 weeks of diligent treatment to completely eradicate mealybugs.
Are coffee grounds good for preventing mealybugs?
Used coffee grounds contain nitrogen, deter pests, and lower soil pH. Spreading a thin layer on top of the potting mix may help deter mealybugs. However, improved airflow, light exposure, and arid conditions are more impactful preventives.
Can mealybugs kill a cactus?
Yes, a large enough infestation can kill a cactus. Mealybugs insert needle-like mouthparts into the plant tissues and suck out sap. This depletes the cactus of nutrients, eventually weakening and killing it if uncontrolled. Small infestations cause minimal long term damage.
Do ladybugs really help with mealybugs?
Yes, ladybugs are a natural predator of mealybugs. Both the adult and larval ladybugs will feed on all life stages of mealybugs. Each ladybug can consume hundreds of pests. They are an effective biological control if released early in an infestation.
The fight against mealybugs takes time and diligence. But with persistence and multiple, integrated treatment methods, you can protect your succulents from these destructive pests and enjoy healthy, thriving plants.
How can I get rid of mealybugs?
The video below shows the technique I use to get rid of mealybugs from succulents using isopropyl alcohol. You can also read the details of this method in the sections that follow.
While many plant pesticides will kill mealybugs, the best solution Ive found to kill them is 70% isopropyl alcohol. Many people recommend using q-tips to dab on the alcohol, but Ive found that a spray bottle is much more effective and easier to use.
I actually keep a little travel sized spray bottle next to my plants so I can kill the nasty things as soon as they show up. I do use a larger one if the infestation gets out of hand or affects very many plants.
When you first notice the mealybugs, move your infected plants away from everything else. Mealybugs spread quickly and you dont want to risk other plants getting infected.
The alcohol will kill the mealybugs if you spray it directly on them, no matter where they are on the succulent.
Be sure to check those hard to see places near the stem. Spray them really well with the alcohol. As soon as you spray them, the web-like substance will almost go away, leaving behind a small, black or brown bug about the size of a crumb.
A lot of the time, one round of alcohol spray will kill mealybugs if you catch them early. If you didnt quite get them all though, they may come back in a day or two. Continue to spray them until they dont come back.
If there were a lot of them, you might want to sprinkle alcohol on the ground the next time you water. This will kill any bugs or eggs that are hiding out in the soil.
Doesn’t the alcohol damage the succulent?
Nope! The great thing about alcohol, as opposed to other pesticides, is its completely safe for succulents.
I’ve pretty much soaked some plants in alcohol for a few days in a row because they had a really bad mealy bug plague. They didnt show any signs of burn or damage from the alcohol. The alcohol itself evaporates quickly, so its just water that remains. The spray bottle won’t get too much on the leaves, so it will dry out before it can do any harm.
