Otherwise, you can use a preventative pesticide. Spray your garden with water before releasing the ladybugs to ensure they can find a good drink nearby. For example, mealybugs are common in succulents where they hide in the tight crevices between fleshy rosette leaves. I am delighted you are finding this so valuable – that is exactly my goal. Required fields are marked *. Hi Neela, Do not over water and over fertilize the plants as it is the main cause of brewing of mealy bugs. I managed to get a bag of wet worm castings and on Saturday i worked it.into the newest succulant potting soil mix that you suggested. I have used neem oil. Take care not to use insecticides once you release them. Hi Brenda, Mealy bugs are sexually dimorphic which means that the male and the female species are way different beyond the differences in their sexual organs. Although I am certain God had great reasons for making so many, and making them each distinct, I tend to lump insects largely into the categories of Friend or Foe. But don’t worry! For a 4-inch pot, I mix in a couple tablespoons of worm castings and then plant my succulent. These whiteflies were throughout the sempervivum —as evidenced by the casings — and would soon spread to the surrounding succulents. If your plants are Whenever you notice mealy bugs on your succulents the first step is always to separate infected succulents from the rest of them. Fortunately, there are easier ways to reap the benefits of worm castings for all your succulents! it feeds, retains a bit more moisture and prevents insects – win-win-win! Mealy bugs are easy to deal with if the correct measure is applied at the right time. Another excellent worm castings product is Hello Succulents natural worm tea food spray. Chitinase in worm castings kills and repels insects like whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale and thrips. However their w/ someone who’s bedridden & we have a parrot who’s never gone near but would like to keep them safe (just in case). There is no need to re-pot to add the worm castings – I should have made this more clear. If they still want a bit more, and you don’t feel that increasing their watering is the right move, then I would add some coco coir. Is there something more natural like vinegar & water?… Or dish soap & water that I can put on the soil to stop the insanity?… Maybe even placing them outside?… I can send pics to you if necessary of the plants, but cannot seem to get one of the fly’s. I mix the dried worm castings in with my succulent soil. Your plants will be less prone to rot when you use worm castings. Then, each time you water, the worm castings will release to the water and filter down into the soil where the plant’s roots will access it! It prevents water from evaporating too quickly on hot days. Succulents are plants which have gained enormous popularity amongst the gardeners and the plant lovers. That will keep the worm castings in place. 1 year ago I posted a video about rooting succulents with cinnamon, while that was a fail for me, the cinnamon has prevented any mealybug action. For store-bought, I recommend Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap. Again, take care to use only in the early mornings or evenings, out of the direct sun. It’s important to realize that the plants that attract pollinators also are attractive to destructive pests. This technique is very cheap and can be performed at the initial attack of mealy bugs. Thank you SO much! Mealy Bugs Photo courtesy of Flickr. You would have to be extremely lucky to never encounter a mealybug on your succulents. Neem oil spray is very effective to ward off any mealy bug attack. When you apply a layer of inorganic top dressing, like decorative pebbles, perlite or sand, it prevents the insects from reaching the soil, and any hatchlings cannot reach the surface. Make sure that the succulents get good amount of sunlight and where sunlight is not possible make sure that it is kept in grow light for a sufficient amount of time. The Best Insecticides for Mealybugs. If you love growing and collecting succulents, you will someday face mealybugs on succulents. As the saying goes ‘ Prevention is better than cure’ we will see some methods to prevent the infestation of mealy bugs. It is a worm castings foliar spray that both feeds your plants and kills and repels insects. I much prefer the worm castings, and it feeds my succulents at the same time! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; To try and prevent mealybugs from spreading is the key to not have much trouble with these little pests. It can be sprayed directly on the succulent and also be dissolved in soil for no residue. This is the best way to get rid of mealy bugs if you are growing them outdoors. The best way to prevent mealybugs is to check on your plants regularity and have a close look to see if you spot any webs or small insects. Learn a simple way to get rid of them that is safe for the succulents! You should be fine adding it at this time of year. The mealy bugs lay their eggs in the soil as the soil provides warm and moist environment in the development of eggs. When it comes to succulents, mealybugs are one of the most common pests.They make themselves known by the white fuzz that they leave on the leaves or spines, and when the bugs are fully grown, they actually look like small crabs. Your shrubs, veggies, fruit trees and ornamentals will appreciate the worm castings every bit as much as your succulents will! It is a readymade insecticidal soap which comes in a spray bottle which is convenient to use. Plan to repeat the process every 2-3 days for a week to ensure you kill the juvenile stage insects as they mature, too. ~Kat. They seem to be getting worse. As you know, I like to amend succulent soils to better suit the plant or the climate. Thanks. I hope one of these will be easy to acquire!