Cleaning Methods for Succulent Scale Insects
Today's plant experience from the Flower Clinic focuses on succulents, specifically the cleaning method for succulent scale insects. Here is a comprehensive introduction to follow.
Succulent scale insects are a nightmare for plant enthusiasts, especially for新手 gardeners. This article compiles cleaning methods for succulent scale insects and answers a few simple questions, which can be quite practical for beginners.
Firstly, let's address a few common questions:
1. How do the insects appear?
Insects definitely come from hatched eggs, and most of the insects at home are brought in with the purchased succulents. It's very rare for eggs to be present in bags of soil.
2. Can "Potassium Permanganate" kill insects or eggs?
"Potassium Permanganate" is a disinfectant and cannot kill insects or eggs.
3. Can "Multi-fungicide" kill insects and eggs?
Multi-fungicide is a fungicide and cannot kill insects and eggs.
【General Scale Insect Cleaning Method】: These insects mainly adhere to the back of leaves and stems,吸食 plants, and are very easy to detect. They are contagious, and adult insects can crawl from one pot to another. They should be cleaned promptly once discovered. Because they are visible, they are much easier to clean. Hand-held toothpicks, needles, and various tools can be used. If there are too many, you can use pesticides to spray. I personally find "Flower Protector" very handy, cheap, and effective. Just mix it with water at a ratio of 1:200 as instructed and spray. A second spray after a week will basically ensure that you won't see any more of these disgusting insects.
After spraying, it's important not to expose the plant to sunlight. Keep it in a shaded place for 4-5 days before moving it to a sunny spot. If placed in the sun immediately after spraying, the rapid evaporation of water will increase the concentration of the pesticide, which can easily burn the plant. If there are children or pregnant women at home, or if you prefer not to use chemicals, you can wash the plant under running water or use a magnifying glass and a needle to puncture them one by one! Just keep checking, discovering, and cleaning.
Since there are eggs, and eggs cannot be killed by chemicals, you can only wait for the larvae to hatch and then clean them.
【Root Mealybug Cleaning Method】: This is a bit more troublesome because under normal circumstances, these insects are invisible. They almost all live in the soil, surviving by absorbing nutrients from the roots, then lay eggs and hatch. They are very difficult to detect, usually only seen when repotting. Therefore, it's necessary to thoroughly inspect and clean the succulents when newly purchased. Their传染性 is also terrifying. Adult insects can crawl out from the bottom of a pot and into another one.
The most可怕 thing, however, is their eggs. When watering, the eggs can be washed out of the pot. If they come into contact with soil and are mixed into other pots, they can quickly cause a massive outbreak. These insects cannot be completely eradicated; you can only fight them for the long term. Everyone should be prepared mentally!
If not using chemicals, upon discovering root mealybugs during repotting, you need to immediately discard the original soil (or leave it outdoors to be exposed to the sun for a few months before using it in the garden) wash all the plant roots thoroughly, then trim them slightly, soak in clean water for half an hour, wash again, then let it dry for 1-2 days before repotting. The original pot should also be thoroughly cleaned, preferably with a brush for a 360-degree scrub. If it's too troublesome, you can use chemicals. The most effective ones currently available are "Scale Insect Killer," "Fast Kill," "Bayer Small Green Pills," and "Furadan," which can kill the insects, but not the eggs. This requires continuous use of pesticides. Personally, I am against using chemicals as they can easily harm the plants and cause secondary soil pollution. Everyone should weigh the options for themselves~
For any type of insect, everyone should deal with it correctly and there's no need to be overly nervous or scared. After all, insects and flowers coexist. Lastly, I still hope that everyone's succulents grow healthy and without any pests bothering them~
The above introduction to the cleaning methods for succulent scale insects (for beginners) is provided for everyone's learning and reference!