Cacti and succulent houseplants occasionally experience insect pests, but the majority of issues are bacterial or fungal illnesses brought on by overwatering. Scale, mealy bugs, and root mealy bugs are the three most prevalent pests. Pests like spider mites and fungus gnats are less frequent.
Mealy Bugs
These are among the most prevalent pests of cactus and succulents. They are small, elliptical insects that are gray or light brown in appearance and around 2-3 millimeters long. They create a waxy or mealy white substance that gives them their name. The white cottony stuff you notice on your plants is a warning indication that mealybugs are present.
Most likely, you’ll see this white fluffy stuff before you see any bugs. These insects produce honeydew or another sugary secretion that can encourage the formation of mold and increase the likelihood of bacterial and fungal diseases. They are typically visible on the leaves’ undersides and between the plant’s joints. They are quickly disseminated from one plant to another.
Solution: Apply rubbing alcohol-dipped cotton swabs or Q-tips directly to the insects and wherever you observe the fluffy, white stuff. This procedure will kill the bugs without harming your plant.
You can also use a spray bottle and apply rubbing alcohol directly on the bugs and white fluff instead of dabbing it on them. Some folks prefer to mix water and alcohol that is roughly half strength.
You can also use soap, such as dish soap diluted in water, as an alternative to alcohol. Try adding a few drops of soap to two cups of water, then shaking to thoroughly combine. Spray directly where you detect mealybugs and white fluff where it is impacted.
Unfortunately, mealy bugs are difficult to eradicate, and it could take several treatments to do so. If necessary, carry out the procedure once weekly until the issue is resolved. Mealy bugs can spread from plant to plant, so isolate the diseased plant to protect your other plants.
The roots may also be home to tiny insects. You must cure the plant and detach it from the pot in order to eradicate them from the roots. Wash the bugs from the roots and remove the soil.
Use soapy water or rubbing alcohol to mist the plant. Some people prefer to mix water and alcohol at a strength that is around half. Repot the plant in new, well-draining potting soil made for cacti and succulents after letting it dry out for a few days.
Scale
Scales come in over a thousand different species with a wide range of colors, sizes, and forms. The armored scale and the soft scale insects are the two types of scales that frequently attack succulent plants. You can have a scale issue if your succulent develops tiny, brown lumps. Succulents’ sap is a favorite food item for these insects, which harms the plants and increases their susceptibility to disease.
Solution: Hand-pick or hose-off any visible insects from your plant that you see. Any visible insects on your plants should be scraped off or sprayed away. You can physically remove them from your plant if the scale issue is not too severe. Scales can be handled in a manner similar to mealybugs. Apply rubbing alcohol-dipped cotton swabs or Q-tips straight to the insects.
As an alternative, you can spray rubbing alcohol straight into the bugs in place of dabbing them with alcohol. Some folks prefer to mix water and alcohol that is roughly half strength.
Scales can sometimes be successfully treated with neem oil. Neem oil might not be sufficient if the infestation is severe. Neem oil should be diluted in 8 cups of water by adding 1 spoonful (15 ml). Infested areas as well as the undersides of the leaves should be sprayed with the remedy. Neem oil should only be used at night to avoid burning your plant from solar damage.
Unfortunately, these bugs are difficult to get rid of, and it could require several treatments. If necessary, carry out the procedure once weekly until the issue is resolved. To prevent contaminating your other plants, isolate the sick plant.
In order to treat the plant, you must take it out of the container if the scale infestation is severe. Wash the bugs from the roots and remove the soil. Use soapy water or rubbing alcohol to mist the plant. Some people prefer to mix water and alcohol at a strength that is around half.
Repot the plant in new, well-draining potting soil made for cacti and succulents after letting it dry out for a few days. Keep the diseased plant separate from your other plants while treating it to stop the infestation from spreading to others.
Aphids (Greenflies or Plant Lice)
These are little, fatty, teardrop-shaped insects. They are available in many hues, with green being the most prevalent. They can be seen sucking on leaves or flowers at the ends of stems and are frequently numerous.
As they feed, they also exhale a lot of honeydew, a sugary white material. This sweet material may promote the development of black sooty mold. Aphids feed on the plant’s tissues, resulting in misshaped leaves and limited growth of the plant.
Solution: Spraying the plant with water pressure and aphids may be able to be physically removed from the plant by doing this. The plant can also be treated with a solution of soapy water. Mix thoroughly after adding a few drops of soap to the water. Spray the undersides of the leaves and the infected areas.
The soapy water might also have vegetable oil added to it. Mix well 1 to 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil with a few drops of soap, such as dish soap. If you detect bugs, spray the infestation there.
Some people have found success using neem oil to treat aphids. Neem oil should be diluted in 8 cups of water by adding 1 spoonful (15 ml). Infested areas as well as the undersides of the leaves should be sprayed with the remedy. Neem oil should only be used at night to avoid burning your plant from solar damage.
Once a week, repeat the therapy as necessary until the issue is solved.
Spider Mites
Because they are so little, spider mites frequently go unnoticed for a very long time. Red is the most popular hue. Spider mites adore sucking on the succulents’ delicious sap.
As the mites wreak havoc on the plant, an infected plant initially loses color and might eventually turn nearly white or silvery. Pay great attention to nearby plants to spot infestations as soon as possible. Typically, spider webbing and little brown spots on your plant are the first indicators of spider mites.
Treatment: You can treat spider mites in the same manner as mealybugs. Apply rubbing alcohol-dipped cotton swabs or Q-tips immediately to the insects and wherever you observe the white, cottony substance. This procedure will kill the bugs without harming your plant.
You can also use soap, such as dish soap diluted in water, as an alternative to alcohol. Consider adding a couple of drops of soap to a cup of water and shaking to combine. Directly apply spray to the afflicted areas.
To solve the issue, several treatments will be necessary. Once a week or as necessary, repeat the procedure until the issue is resolved. To prevent contaminating your other plants, isolate the sick plant.
You may wish to repot your entire plant if you think the infection is worse. Take the plant out of the pot, remove the soil, and wash the bugs away. Use soapy water or rubbing alcohol to mist the plant. Some people prefer to mix water and alcohol at a strength that is around half. Repot the plant in new, well-draining potting soil made for cacti and succulents after letting it dry out for a few days.
Whiteflies
These are frequently found with succulent leafy plants. They are tiny, white, flying insects that can be challenging to manage and have a high rate of reproduction. When an infected plant is shook, whiteflies can be seen flying from the bottom of the leaves. These insects, like aphids, create honeydew all over your plant, which encourages the development of sooty mold.
Solution: Use water to spray the flies off in order to get rid of some of them. Spray some water and rubbing alcohol that has been diluted to half strength on the plant. You can also use soap, such as dish soap diluted in water, as an alternative to alcohol.
Consider adding a couple of drops of soap to a cup of water and shaking to combine. Directly apply spray to the afflicted areas. If necessary, repeat the procedure.
Fungus Gnats
Perhaps one of the most frequent pests of indoor plants is the fungus gnat. Despite not being as damaging to your plants as other pests, fungus gnats can still be difficult to manage and get rid of. They have a buglike appearance. The gnats will be drawn to the soil and begin breeding if you overwater your succulents or if it is always damp.
Solution: Moisture attracts fungus gnats. Make careful to water your succulents in moderation and to let the soil dry out in between waterings. Cacti and succulents require soil that drains well. If your plants are growing in the incorrect medium, repot them in a well-draining potting mix made for cacti and succulents to avoid soggy soil.
Sprinkle cinnamon powder over your potting soil for a natural cure. Due to its inherent anti-fungal characteristics, cinnamon may be able to aid. You may also make use of one of those sticky yellow insect pads. The fungus gnats adhere to these pads, which could aid in reducing the issue while you address the root of the infestation.
Ants
Since ants are present all over the natural world, shouldn’t they be safe around succulents? A single or two ants here and there are acceptable, but if you notice an army of ants on your plant, it’s likely that you also have scales, aphids, or mealybugs. Because these insects secrete honeydew or other sweet substances that ants adore, ants raise these insects as food.
Spray the plant with insecticidal soap or soapy water as a cure. About once every week, repeat as necessary. To deter ants from your plant, you can also place ant baits close by. Check the plant for any other insects that might be luring ants there and deal with them as necessary. Soapy water should frequently solve the issue.
You might wish to repot your entire plant if the infestation is severe. Take the plant out of the pot, remove the soil, and wash the bugs away. Use soapy water or rubbing alcohol to mist the plant.
Some people prefer to mix water and alcohol at a strength that is around half. Repot the plant in new, well-draining potting soil made for cacti and succulents after letting it dry out for a few days.
Can you use insect repellent on succulents?
Sprays of insecticide are helpful against a variety of garden pests, including those that frequently inhabit succulent plants. Pests can be temporarily eliminated by spraying the plants with pesticides like acephate, dimethoate, dinotefuran, or pyrethroids that have been diluted in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Insects can subsequently reinfest your succulents if you don’t kill them completely on the neighboring plants as well. Apply only as often as directed on the product’s label.
Are indoor succulents a bug magnet?
The globe has been swept up in the succulent craze. They’ve succeeded in becoming everyone’s garden’s favorite plant. Some individuals believe they are resistant to pests. But is that even accurate? It is a good idea to inquire about if succulents attract bugs.
Yes, insects can be drawn to succulents. Succulents are resistant to pests, but they still manage to draw insects. Due to the high water content of these plants, they draw predators who like to feast on them in order to rehydrate.
Rub alcohol harms plants, right?
If rubbing alcohol is used as a pesticide or herbicide in excessive doses or if the plant is sensitive to alcohol, it can harm plants. Avoid using alcohol on plants like hydrangeas, mint, and lavender that quickly absorb moisture and pollutants through their leaves.
Rubbish alcohol works better as a pesticide on plants with waxy surfaces on their leaves and stems, such as peace lilies and monsteras.
What are succulents sprayed with?
When you detect mealy bugs on your succulents, the first thing you should do is quarantine the affected plants and relocate them away from other plants. Check the healthy plants for any indications of mealy bugs.
After that, be ready to clean your contaminated plants by removing them from the pot and giving them a thorough rinsing under running water. In hot, soapy water, wash the pot. Replant with fresh soil after allowing the plant and pot to dry out. Old dirt should be disposed of in the regular trash, not the green bin.
If you don’t instantly have ready-mix succulent soil at your home, you can put the soil in an oven-safe container covered with foil and bake it for at least 30 minutes, or until the soil reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit. After letting cool, plant again. Since there may still be mealy bug eggs in the old soil, we advise getting new soil.
Now let’s get to the most crucial step: mealybug elimination. Pesticides made of chemicals are generally the first thing that springs to mind. We don’t advise using them, though, as some of them can be highly damaging to succulents. Here are some secure choices we’ve tried and think are really helpful:
Neem oil and soap mixtures or rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) come first. The cheapest and most efficient approach for controlling aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites is to use 75 percent rubbing alcohol. Simply give the succulents a good spraying and leave them. The bug will start to turn brown, which indicates that it is dead. The plants won’t be harmed by the alcohol because it will entirely evaporate in a short period of time. Perform this each week until you no longer notice any bugs.  
Another secure insecticide that can be applied directly to outbreaks is neem oil. It has the ability to instantly eliminate all stages of mealybugs. Neem oil at a concentration of 5% in water is combined with a few drops of soap before being sprayed all over your succulent. Keep in mind that using concentrated neem oil could burn your succulents.  
If you don’t have a spray bottle, you might paint-brush any area where mealy bugs are present. After a few hours, water the plant to remove the dead insects. You can readily find rubbing alcohol and neem oil online or at your neighborhood pharmacy. To prevent water stains or sunburn when using neem oil or rubbing alcohol, be sure to keep the plant out of direct sunlight. For a few days, keep them away from the window and direct sunshine.  
If there are still some mealy bugs on your plant, check it again and continue the procedure for a few days. Then, as a preventative step, spray once again after a week. Neem oil can also be sprayed into the soil to eliminate any bugs or eggs that may be lurking there. Put the plant back in its original location and continue inspecting every three weeks if mealy bugs don’t recur after thoroughly checking and spraying for a few weeks.
Neem oil and rubbing alcohol are relatively secure, but there is a danger they could harm your succulent.
So we advise utilizing ladybugs as another natural cure. Yes, you heard correctly! These adorable ladybugs are all-natural enemies of mealybug and other troublesome pests. However, we advise utilizing ladybugs only as a preventative measure and when your plant is in the early stages of infestation.