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Cacti & Succulents

Unknown disease on unknown succulent

Laura Smyer (9a)

8 years ago

This is just one several different succulents I "rescued" from leftover floral arrangements last fall. I got into succulents last summer and had some good luck keeping them alive, and even propagating new plants from leaves, so I figured I would try to root these crowns for my collection. A few of them are thriving, even blooming. Others, like the one in the picture, have tiny black spots all over them. At first I thought it was sunburn (I live in Florida so it stays pretty hot until December), but I have moved them to brightly shaded areas of the porch or a northern window sill, and this hasn't reduced the appearance of the spots. I can't seem to find any information on this and need some help figuring out how to save them.

Thanks so much!

Featured Answer

rina_Ontario,Canada 5a

8 years ago

To find out if it is a 'bug' (like scale), take a cotton ball - q-tip or even soft tissue or piece of fabric. Moisten with rubbing alcohol, and try to wipe off the round brown 'spot'. If it is a pest, it will come off, dead or alive. If it seems to be 'embedded' in the leave and it has to be really scraped off, chances are that it is something else.

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Comments (6)

Bob Davis
8 years ago
Looks like scale to me. I could be wrong though. Google search scale and see what you can find.
palmbob
8 years ago
looks more like spider mite to me.
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Laura Smyer (9a)
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thank you! I looked into both and think it must be scale. Any treatment advice?
Leah
8 years ago
this looks like scale to me too. I had this happen to my jade plant. I treated it with http://www.bonide.com/products/garden-naturals/view/025/bon-neem-ii. I spot treated mine with that solution diluted with water and used q-tips.

A problem I ran into was if I didn't catch it early enough they were embedded and hard clean off. I used the product above for a while, but when I missed a few days of treatment it had spread to the other leaves, I had to cut off all the leaves of the plant and hope that it would grow back. It did and it's doing fine now. I hope your plant can recover!
Laura Smyer (9a) thanked Leah
Laura Smyer (9a)
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks to all for the advice! Upon deeper investigation, I found signs of definite scale and root mealies, so it may be a triad of issues that also include spider mites! Sheesh.

I got off as much scale as possible and hopefully was able to rid them all. Time will tell. I cleaned the roots and repotted in fresh soil. I'm hoping this was enough to save them (and there's not a fungal issue on top of the pest problem!) Thanks again!!

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