If you grow succulents or other houseplants indoors, sooner or later, you will meet some common infective pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, whiteflies, mites, etc. In this blog, you will learn more about mealybugs and how to get rid of them on succulents.

What are Mealy Bugs?

Mealybugs are scaled, oval-shaped, soft-bodied unarmored insects covered in a white, powdery wax coating. If you don't observe them closely, you might think they are a small spot of cotton. They usually appear on greenhouse plants, house plants, and succulents in warm, moist climates.

Mealybugs suck the plant juice on plants and appear on the underside of the leaves and stems. They spread over super fast. If they don't get treated asap, they will infect nearly the whole succulent, even to nearby succulents, which cause dry and wilted leaves and kill the plants eventually.

So How to Get Rid of Mealybugs on Succulents

Isopropyl alcohol Treatment

In general, spraying 70% isopropyl alcohol is recommended if the infestation is not severe. Again, test it in a small area of the plant before applying the whole infected plant. Before causing potential damage to plants, a test run won't go wrong with any insecticide! Make sure to spray new growth and the undersides of the leaves and let them get thoroughly wet.

Using q-tips to dab on the alcohol is better for some susceptible species, and diluting the alcohol with water is another effective way.

Neem Oil Treatment

70% isopropyl alcohol is safe for most all succulents to apply. If you are looking for other ways to replace it, neem oil spray solution won't go wrong.

If you want to know more information about neem oil and how to use it in the right way, click here and get the best answer.

Mealybugs are more likely to appear in warm and moist climates and areas. To avoid severe infestation, regularly applying neem oil mixture every seven days will effectively solve this issue.

Conclusion

For severe infestations, remove the plant out of the container and rinse the whole body with running water. Trimming the infested spot then spraying 70% isopropyl alcohol or applying neem oil mixture to the leaves, stems, and roots. Expose the plant in a dry and shady place with good air circulation and see what happens!