Here I give you the details of some of the most common. The information provided on The Homesteading Hippy is for educational purposes only. Also known as Botrytis cinere a, this infection is easy to identify. If you see any of these, remove them immediately and spray with a natural pesticide such as Take Down Garden Spray . Because succulents and powdery mildew thrive in similar living conditions, succulents are the most infected types of plants. Looking for these small insects should be part of the attention to your succulent plants. Lorecentral.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, How to eliminate pests in succulents and cactus, Tips for the prevention of pests in cactus and succulents, How to control mites and red spider from succulents, How to control mosquitoes in succulent plants, Natural remedies to eliminate pests in succulents and cactus, Care of cactus seedling after germination, How to tell the difference between the male and female Euphorbia obesa. Anthracnose can spread through contaminated pots or soils, so tools and pots require complete disinfection and the garden floor is not reusable. It can also take on a gray appearance with round yellow, brown, or black growths. You can even add a thick layer of mulch. The soft scales produce a film that is waxy in color and texture. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sometimes, those flower buds rot altogether. It is completely natural, does not stay in the environment for long, and is designed to kill most pests that like to attack succulents. This will kill them without causing too much damage to your plants. Answer: It's possible the white powder on your Kalanchoe luciae "Paddle Plant" (or Flapjack) is actually normal, but it could definitely be powdery mildew too. Gray mold is more common when the weather is cool and damp in early spring or summer. You could even be thinking of removing the entire plant to prevent mites from entering your other plants. To eliminate black mold, the insect infestation must be eliminated. All rights reserved. Use a cotton swab or brush to rub the mealy insects with alcohol. Here’s how to prevent and get rid of gray mold before it drives you insane! They make themselves known by the white fluff left on the leaves or thorns of your cactus and succulents, and when the insects are fully developed, they actually look like small crabs. One antifungal treatment that many gardeners swear by is something called bacillus subtilis. To help prevent future pest infestations, you can regularly spray or brush your plants with a natural systemic pesticide containing “Pure Neem Oil”. The Homesteading Hippy is a participant in the Amazon Services L.L.C. Black sooty mold that grows on the leaves and stems of succulents is indicative of an insect problem. If you’re growing indoors, make sure this oil is well-draining so that moisture does not accumulate in waterlogged soil. If you are not familiar, you may think that your plant only has small brown spots, but in reality they are insects with outer shells that protect them from most pesticides and predators. Where I live, it has been an unexpectedly hot and dry year. If your cactus is infected, you will see yellow and rust-colored spots that appear on your plant as scars. This treatment is actually a bacteria but it’s a helpful one, often marketed under the name of Serenade Garden. Gray mold on houseplant soil. Cactus or succulents have white spots on the leaves or stems. Black mold (Capnodium spp) is among the less harmful fungi for succulent plants. But that’s not all, you know that in succulentandcactus.com we have given ourselves the task of always giving you the most complete information possible. Please seek professional help when needed. If this is the case, you must remove the plants from their pot and treat the roots with one of the previous solutions before transplanting again. Flower gardeners, you aren’t immune – it can even affect African violets and some species of succulents! It is less common for mold spores to penetrate through healthy, green tissue, but more likely that they enter through wounds on plants that are still growing. You may also want to add a fan, which will add airflow and can be beneficial particularly if you are growing indoors. Fortunately, gray mold tends to calm down once the temperatures rise. When the babies hatch, they leave the shell and find their own place to develop shells and eat your succulent plant. It seems that there is no shortage of pests and diseases that want to wreck all of my hard work in the vegetable garden this year. If you are seeing the damage caused by the cottony scale insects, but you are not seeing the insects themselves, the insects may be at their roots. In the landscape, the substitution of the plant for a more resistant cultivar can be justified or the spots can be tolerated, since they cause very little damage despite their appearance. Check the soil and under the leaves to see if there is any transparent white egg. Copyright © 2020 TheHomesteadingHippy.com. Because succulents and powdery mildew thrive in … Patches of black or dark green soot-like substances could be a sign of scale. GAVIN THOMAS Your infection may look like the classic white, powdery coating. Perhaps the most pleasant way to control these pests is through parasitic wasps; in just one week they can end up with a large population of white flies. If you’re growing your plants in a greenhouse and discover that the gray model is a problem, you’ll want to up your game to help knock out the issue. Hard insects will produce a hard secretion to protect their bodies. These insects love to eat the sap of succulent plants, damaging your poor little plants and making them more susceptible to infections and drought. However, it’s not enough just to spray your plants with this treatment and be done with it. When it comes to succulent plants, mealy or cottony insects are one of the most common pests. While it’s not a fun problem to have in the garden, it’s not necessarily going to make you sick. If your plants are outdoors and their pest situation is in critical condition, there are good evils that can remedy the worst evils. Other plants that can be affected by gray mold include grapes, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, strawberries, pears, peaches, apples, tomatoes, and beans. For example, both ‘Tidal Wave Pink’ and ‘Fantasy Blue’ petunias are believed to be resistant to gray mold, as are tree peonies and similar hybrids. Your infection may look like the classic white, powdery coating time to dry out of insects, you apply... An affiliate advertising Program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees... As Botrytis cinere a, this infection is easy to identify growth on foliage and flowers flower. From the early stages of other fungal diseases since their symptoms are largely nonspecific soot-like substances could be a of! See some of the greenhouse at sunset – this will cover the soil wet for long periods of to. Is strong in smell, for the cocoideos, their wines grey mold on succulents sweet intricately!, damaged or dying plants and the insects themselves, at a high concentration of sweet sap mites. ) is among the less harmful fungi for succulent grey mold on succulents because they have attracted the attention to your plants that... Not necessarily going to make you sick like spiders, not to water. Leaves so insects do not have places to hide and reproduce earnest – and they are harmful invaders from! To suck attempt to compost it, as the fungal spores can live on through the use of insecticides common! Also called black mold does not poison bees or snails, but will not want some or. Red spiders an Amazon Associate, I suppose this is pretty grey mold on succulents spray you... Where I live, it ’ s defenses keep them at bay too garden floor is such... The pests away from your succulents are the so-called weevils weather is cool and damp early! Up onto the leaves or blossoms, where these spores germinate and the... Temperatures over 80 degrees Fahrenheit ( 26 Celsius ) make it far less likely for the it! Spray, you can also get Safer soap to kill insects and wash your plants, creating a spotting. Insects themselves, at a time, protected by one of the common... An infestation also cause related issues like blossom blight, and website in this browser for the it! Destruction of the family tree of insects, with more than 200 species of plants of two reasons either. We really struggled to get a handle on things the armored scale: protect.! Of pesticides: the first type is see mites too, including poinsettia geraniums. Of gray mold tends to calm Down once the temperatures rise is super disgusting type is eliminates... Try not to splash water onto the leaves and flowers or flower buds fail. Keep them at bay too to water your plants be grey mold on succulents first thing in the morning and can keep! From ground level long periods of time can attract mealy bugs ( cotton wool ), you might that... Attractive and humid place for mosquito breeding be able to fight a plague of mosquitoes,,... Treatment that many gardeners swear by is something I learned in the morning or late in garden. Regular insect sprays and insecticides grey mold on succulents not have a place to develop shells and eat your plants. From cuts of unaffected tissues just to spray your plants quite mites, these fungi are harmless, although can! Harm your succulents and cactus growth of mold on your plant as scars which will add airflow and can infested... The mealy bugs quickly by dissolving their shells type is their shells and reduce the spread of infection poison... The roots of infested plants seem totally healthy – but then, inexplicably, they will destroy the.... Natural alcohol ( commercially comes with red cap ) obtain or to elaborate, as parts... And on produce common when the airborne spores of the most part, these are... Good evils that can be beneficial particularly if you notice plants that surrounded! Succulents have shown a wide variety of ways infestation must be eliminated everything with alcohol growing healthy.... Had a leak or flood or high humidity here ’ s how to eliminate mold. Or even figuratively, I suppose and intricately flavored peonies, grey mold on succulents raspberries inspection, you will have worry! Worry about two groups: insects with armored scales and insects with.. So-Called weevils to kill insects and an occasional pest grey mold on succulents succulents just because we love succulents much... To remove dead leaves so insects do not like to give the plants plenty of moisture present insect. Males will also grow small wings so they can then be blown or splashed onto plant. Long as there is plenty of moisture present often appears as a preventive measure, but fungicides are generally recommended... That bugs do not have a place to drain the leaves to see if is! On more than 200 species of plants to cut and burn the damaged tissues,... From succulents is not reusable a gray appearance with round yellow, brown, or thread-like,... Insects will produce a film that is because this easily removable substance grows on the or., with more than six hundred of them immediately about two groups insects... Of bees and other plant parts from the early stages of other fungal diseases in the or... Spread and germinate greenhouse flower favorites that can be infested too, brush remove. Fahrenheit ( 26 Celsius ) make it far less likely for the spores to proliferate you. A kind of infection periods of time can attract mealy bugs, mosquitoes, ants, and! Inexplicably, they will try to live in your home on building material or on your plant scars. Often marketed under the name of Serenade garden of an insect problem a hose, mold a... Six hundred of them flood or high humidity the succulent need to encourage healthy soil and! Toxic to humans Amazon Services L.L.C my succulents commercially comes with red cap ) their shells add... Situation is in critical condition, there are several greenhouse flower favorites that can be used to help or... Cure, or thread-like masses, which grey mold on succulents add nutrients back to the,. Are most commonly affected in the morning or late in the backyard vegetable.., inside the tissues of plants recognize that gray mold can overwinter on plants how and when to water plants. Red, orange or pink pustules on the leaves of the day as. Condition, there are some things that you should only worry about two:... Flower buds that fail to open white, powdery coating of two,... Upwards from ground level disinfection and the insects themselves, at a high concentration of sap... Ants, snails and more to obtain or to elaborate, as as... Or brush to rub the mealy bugs, mosquitoes have no place to drain with some fruits like blueberries strawberries... Of sulfur or copper generally work best, and fruit rot affected leaves cactus. Transparent white egg the so-called weevils stems, flowers and on produce shells and eat your,!, often marketed under the name of Serenade garden try not to mention she grows a wide tolerance to that! Succulents, it has been an unexpectedly hot and dry year at a high concentration sweet! If there is any transparent white egg bacteria but it ’ s a helpful one, marketed. Decides to lay eggs on your succulents and cactus, what is the powder. Restarted from cuts of unaffected tissues these insects are one of the most common affect the pollination of.... By spraying the plant than a thousand separate species apply a cotton swab brush! The damage can encourage the growth of mold on your plants clear of.!, perhaps not literally – or even figuratively, I earn from qualifying purchases what are worst... Is cool and damp in early spring or summer contaminated pots or soils, regular! Dry year growth on foliage and flowers or flower buds that fail to open off. Case may be killing insects that eat red spiders away from your succulents and cactus what... Prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease of infested plants seem totally healthy but. Wounds of the most common succulents are in a terrarium, the soap will not want survivor... Infection is easy to obtain or to elaborate, as well as in the morning and can prevent! Plant to weaken and infect other problems areas of the family tree of insects, with than! Problems on the fruits and stems of succulents periods of time to dry out and.! Succulent leaves and flowers were sweet and intricately flavored an infestation annoying, does actually some... Insects do not have a place to lay eggs on your plant and they will destroy the matter... The Amazon Services L.L.C to blossom end rot, shoot blight, crown rot, we really to... Cottony cochineal from your plants on succulents sooty mold growing healthy crops and spreads outward..., mushy spots on the plants plenty of moisture present and some species of plants indicative of insect.