Examine the soil and the area around the pot to see whether birds are consuming your succulents. Do you notice any feces? Birds will produce little, rounded droppings. Additionally, you might notice tiny white faeces; those are urates, pee that has solidified. Small holes rather than large bitten portions are more likely to be found since birds like to eat succulent foliage.
It might have been a larger animal if there are more portions removed or if you observe chew marks. The larger rodents like voles, possums, mice, squirrels, and others can consume succulents. Even cats and dogs will occasionally eat succulents, but they frequently quit after only one bite. Make sure your succulents are not hazardous to dogs or cats if you have pets, and keep them out of their reach if you do. Succulents can also be harmed and eaten by smaller insects like snails and slugs.
But don’t assume that your succulents will only be damaged by birds and other animals. Small vermin can consume your succulents or at the very least sap their juices. These include, for instance, aphids. Aphids are tiny insects that are frequently colored green, black, or yellow. Spider mites are tiny and come in a variety of hues. Additionally, they absorb plant liquids. Succulents might suffer unfavorable effects from scale bugs as well. Succulents can also be harmed by slugs and snails.
Always be sure to inspect your succulents’ roots for damage, pests, and discolouration. You can use natural remedies to get rid of pests if your succulents are afflicted. Neem oil, horticultural mineral oils, and insecticidal soaps are a few examples.
My succulent is being eaten by what?
Succulents are a common food source for bugs and other animals, which is unfortunate. Even though it is not their natural meal, animals appear to enjoy the water-filled leaves of succulent plants, and the harm they cause to our priceless plants drives succulent enthusiasts crazy. What then consumes succulent leaves?
Aphids, mealy bugs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, snails, and slugs are the most prevalent critters that consume succulents worldwide. The list varies depending on where you are in the world.
What can I do to stop rats from consuming my succulents?
Although some cacti are resilient plants that can withstand the occasional nibble, rodents frequently pose a threat to human life when they consume cacti, necessitating the need for cactus plant security. Here are some recommendations for keeping rats away from cacti:
Wire fencing should be used to enclose your cactus. To stop rodents from tunneling under the fencing, bury it at least 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) into the ground.
Covers: Cover cactus every night with a metal garbage can, bucket, or empty nursery container if rats are an issue at night.
Mint: Try planting mint around your cacti to deter rats from enjoying the potent perfume. Place potted mint plants close to your cactus if you are concerned that it might grow aggressively.
Cats make excellent pets because they are skilled at getting rid of rodents, especially mice and other tiny animals. Some canines, like Jack Russell Terriers, are skilled at catching vermin and rats.
Repellants: Many garden supply stores carry predator urine, such as that of the wolf, fox, or coyote, which some gardeners find effective for surrounding cacti. Other repellents, including sprays of hot pepper, garlic, or onions, seem to be at best transitory.
If you opt to use poison to keep rodents away from cacti, proceed with utmost caution. If you have young children or pets, stay away from poison at all costs. Keep in mind that poison can also cause the death of birds and other creatures. Final but not least, keep in mind that poisoned animals frequently seek refuge to die, meaning they can take their last breath within the confines of your home.
Trapping: This should only be used as a last option and doesn’t function as well as you may imagine, similar to poison. When an animal is trapped, it frequently leaves a void that is rapidly filled by another animal (or several). Rodent relocation is prohibited in many places, so you should first check with your local Department of Fish and Wildlife before considering using live traps. Think about your neighbors!
How do I keep squirrels away from my succulent plants?
The effectiveness of several methods for preventing squirrels from entering your succulent garden varies. We look at some of them in this section:
Netting and Fencing
Undoubtedly one of the best ways to keep squirrels away is with nets or fencing. Consider the idea of building a barrier that they cannot cross.
But because squirrels are skilled climbers, diggers, and acrobats, building an effective barrier can be difficult. To stop squirrels from digging underneath, the barrier needs to be buried a few inches. The barrier must also have a smooth surface to prevent them from climbing it.
Even if you install a fence that is squirrel-proof, it is frequently required to add netting over it to be safe. If you decide not to, be cautious of any branches that may be near your garden. Using those branches as a ramp, squirrels can hop into your garden.
The main problem with netting and fencing is that they take away from your garden’s overall aesthetic appeal. To keep the garden squirrel-free, you should routinely check the fence for holes and other damage.
Smell Repellents
One excellent example is peppermint. Applying peppermint next to your succulents will make them squirrel-unfriendly. Because squirrels detest the smell of mothball, gardeners also use it as a repellant. However, be in mind that mothball is poisonous and can hurt kids, pets, and even wild animals if swallowed.
Squirrels generally dislike spicy food. As a result, you want to think about creating or purchasing a pepper spray that you may use on your garden. Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper can be sprinkled on the ground to deter squirrels.
Be aware that smell repellents need to be frequently reapplied, especially after heavy rain or irrigation, which makes them ineffective. If you don’t, squirrels will always come back.
Natural Predator
You can use squirrels’ natural predators to deter them if you don’t want the extra responsibility that comes with dog ownership.
For instance, a tried-and-true method to deter squirrels is to spray your garden with a predator’s urine. But once more, it must be continuously administered to preserve its effectiveness.
Another tactic is to surround your yard with plastic owls, snakes, and hawks because these animals frighten squirrels. However, keep in mind that you must frequently alter the locations of these fictitious predators to prevent squirrels from growing accustomed to them and losing their dread of them.
Give Them Their Food
Although there is considerable controversy surrounding this approach, several homeowners say it has been successful for them. Using a squirrel feeder, you may feed the animals the nuts, maize, sunflower seeds, and other items they enjoy.
By making their favorite meals accessible to them, you take away their motivation to attack your succulents.
Startle Them
Scaring squirrels makes them nervous. For this reason, you want to think about using a motion-activated air can or sprinkler that sprays water when it detects movement. The scared squirrel makes a hasty retreat to safety.
Keep squirrels out of your succulent garden if you want to enjoy it. We looked at some of the more effective methods for achieving that. But if you’ve tried these methods without success, it’s time to consult a specialist.
What is consuming my succulent plants indoors?
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.
Do rabbits consume succulents?
These little creatures will devour your plants, including succulents, if you let them roam free in your garden. Similar to deer, rabbits typically avoid succulents if there are more appetizing options on the proverbial buffet table, but they will consume succulents in the absence of better options.
How can pests be kept away from succulents?
Due of how simple they are to maintain, succulent plants are among the most common houseplants in America. Succulents are popular houseplants that are difficult to kill but are very vulnerable to pests. Unfortunately, due to their delicate exteriors, which are easily harmed during extermination, succulent plants pose more of a pest control challenge than other plant types. You’ve come to the proper place if you lack extermination experience. Here are four procedures you should follow to get rid of pests from your favourite succulents.
Identifying the afflicted plants is the first step in a successful pest removal. Aphids and mealybugs are the two most prevalent pests that attack succulent plants. Your plants may be afflicted with aphids if you see small dots on them. Aphids need to be removed from your plants as soon as possible since they can cause significant damage by suckling out the juice from your plants. As an alternative, mealybugs harm succulent plants the most and cause fuzzy white lumps on plants. Mealybugs are sap-eating insects with toxic saliva that can stunt plant growth and even cause leaves to drop too soon. No matter what kind of pest you find, it’s critical to take immediate action to prevent spread and plant damage.
It’s time to isolate the affected succulents once you’ve identified which plants are contaminated in order to stop the bugs from spreading. You may keep a closer eye on your diseased plants by isolating them, and you can give the plants that are not responding to treatment more attention.
Before introducing any new succulents you buy to your other plants, it’s a good idea to quarantine them in a different room for a few weeks. Before adding the plant to your collection of other succulents, you can cure it and personally remove any insects that were there when you purchased the plant.
Taking precautions for your succulents is one of the best methods to keep pests away from them. Preventative action taken early on will help you avoid a major headache later on. Every time you buy a new succulent, you should give it a systematic insecticide spraying while the plant is confined. Your succulent will be made poisonous to bugs by the insecticide, preventing harm. When you re-pot your plants, it’s a good idea to spray them again.
Spraying one of your existing succulents with 70% alcohol is an excellent technique to treat it if you want to avoid using chemicals to treat the infestation. Make sure to approach the plant from every possible aspect when doing this. If alcohol is unsuccessful, further options include using insecticidal soap, a solution of dish soap and water, or an insecticide spray. You can put your plant back with the others after it has been bug-free for 30 days.
Pests don’t necessarily disappear permanently just because you got rid of them from your succulents once. After all, plants are highly attractive to pests. Regularly inspect your succulents for signs of pests, and immediately quarantine any infected plants.
Repeat steps one through four if you discover pests in your succulents again. Use a professional pest control company’s services if you can’t get rid of the pests yourself.
There are steps you can take to lessen the likelihood that pests will harm your succulents, even though you cannot completely prevent this from happening.
- Take out the dead leaves to make it harder for bugs to hide and reproduce. Eliminating dead leaves will also lessen the possibility of mold growth.
- Keep your succulents as dry as possible. Pests tend to be drawn to moist soil.
- Reusing soil or adding dead leaves from diseased plants to the compost pile are also prohibited.
- During the growing season, keep your succulents healthy by fertilizing them with a gentle, balanced fertilizer.
How can I avoid mice from getting into my potted plants?
You inspect your potted plants and discover several that have been destroyed. You discover broken roots and holes in the potting soil.
You can identify mice in your potted plants using these hints. Now, what can you do?
Using peppermint, lavender, rosemary, or other potted plants with strong scents might deter rodents from getting near your houseplants. Since mice have keen senses of smell, anything that smells strongly will probably deter them from entering. You can also use other odors like eucalyptus oil, garlic, or onions.
How can I prevent rodents from getting into my potted plants?
You devote a lot of time and energy to making your garden bloom since it is your pride and joy. So you’ll need a garden that is rat-proof.
Rodents are one of a gardener’s worst nightmares. They destroy your crops, spread disease, poop all around, and hide in the most obtrusive locations. Furthermore, they multiply incredibly quickly.
In actuality, a rodent’s gestation period is only three weeks. Each litter can contain up to 14 infants, and a female can have up to 10 different litters per year. And only one rodent at that. Therefore, you need move quickly to get rid of any rodents you spot in your garden.
You cannot and should not employ a pest management strategy that endangers your plants or the environment. And if you have pets, you want something secure around them.
By now, you’ll probably be wondering how to keep mice out of garden beds. Fortunately, there are several natural solutions to both kill and discourage rats, allowing you to maintain gorgeous crop and flower growth throughout the entire season.
Skip The Mulch
Mulching is great for weed control and giving organic nutrients to the soil, but it can be detrimental if rats are a problem. It appears to merely entice them in, imploring them to build a nest and settle in.
If you must mulch, choose wood-chip mulch because it shouldn’t allow them to bury themselves there.
Get A Cat
There is no secret that cats like pursuing mice. Get an outside cat to take care of the mice if you want to get rid of them without lifting a finger!
The wonderful thing about cats is that they are independent. You’re good to go as long as the cat has access to food, water, and shelter (as well as being spayed or neutered).
Plant Mint
Rodents are naturally discouraged by the scent of mint. It is therefore a wonderful addition to any garden. Keep a few pots within the greenhouse and along the greenhouse’s perimeter.
You might alternatively strew dried mint around the greenhouse’s openings if you don’t want additional plant to take care of. If that doesn’t work, try soaking some cotton balls in peppermint oil and letting them work. Just remember to swap them out every few weeks.
Put Up Solar-Powered Repellers
These tiny devices use sound and vibrations to frighten away rodents utilizing ultrasonic frequencies. They are nonetheless environmentally benign because they run on solar power, and they should deter rodents.
Considering that one unit covers roughly 6,000 square feet, depending on how big your garden is, you could need more than one. You, your kids, or your pets won’t hear the sounds because the frequencies are designed particularly for rats.
Create A Border Of Herbs
Most rats and mice avoid strong herbal scents including basil, echinacea, garlic, and thyme in addition to mint. Plant a border of these herbs around the perimeter of your garden to deter rats. Once the rats smell them, they will decide that your garden is worthless and leave.
Use Humane Mouse Traps
The conventional snap traps do their job, but they are not always successful, and when they are, the results are not appealing. There are several mouse traps available that employ different techniques, such as the Nooski mouse trap (not an affiliate, just a good product).
A latex ring is stretched around the mouse’s neck to suffocate it after the bait draws the animal into the trap. This kind of trap has a very high success rate and makes cleaning up the mice easier.
Store Pet Food Securely
Pet food and chicken feed are also major draws for mice and rats. Limit the amount of these edible attractions you leave out at once, and make sure they are placed in areas where rats cannot easily access them.
Use an airtight storage container, such as a Vittles Vault, to keep your pet food fresh. It not only preserves the food’s freshness but also locks in all of the fragrances.
Build A Sturdy Fence
Build a fence if you don’t already have one. If your garden is surrounded by a fence, you should strengthen it. Rodents frequently scurry under the garden gate, so pay special attention and strengthen this region.
Additionally, mice tunnel under fences. With some 1/4 grid hardware cloth, you can stop them. Create a trench that runs parallel to the fence, about 6 down and 6 out from the fence. Attach the hardware cloth with staples to the fence’s bottom. After that, lower it into the earth and cover it. This forms a solid wall underground.
Sprinkle Instant Potatoes
Instant potatoes are inexpensive and surprisingly successful at getting rid of pests. Just scatter a few teaspoons of the powder wherever you think mice may be present. The flakes will enlarge in the mice’s stomachs once they eat them (clearly).
The mice won’t have a chance because of their tiny stomachs, and they will pass away before the potatoes can be broken down. Make sure your other pets don’t eat your potato flakes, though, if you have any!
Place Onions Around The Garden
You don’t even need to produce onions for this strategy to work because they are strong-smelling and repulsive to rats. Simply placing an onion where you think the mice are entering will cause them to take one whiff and flee.
Simply remember to set out a fresh onion every few days or it will rot. Once more, keep all animals away from the onion because dogs cannot handle it.
As an alternative, think about planting garlic, leeks, and onions around the outside of your garden beds. That generally deters various pests, not just rats.
The last thing you want to worry about after spending countless hours diligently maintaining your garden is a mouse infestation that ruins everything. You can keep your garden productive throughout the growing season by taking some extra precautions to keep the rodents out.
Michael enjoys gardening a lot and has a lot of experience utilizing natural methods to keep rats out of his yard. He assists his clients in Connecticut and Massachusetts keep their gardens and houses pest-free as a worker at Richland Pest & Bee Control.