What are the pests of cacti? How can beginners prevent and control them?
This article provides a detailed introduction to the pests of cacti and how beginners can prevent and control them in the aspect of green plants and flowers. Next, the editor will give you a detailed answer.
Cacti are very popular succulent plants, known for their unique shapes and drought resistance. However, even such plants can be invaded by pests. This article will introduce common pests of cacti and how beginners can effectively prevent and control them.
Common Pests of Cacti:
Aphids: Aphids are common pests that suck the sap of cacti, leading to hindered plant growth. Red Spider Mites: Red spider mites suck the sap from the surface of cacti, causing yellow spots or red leaves on the foliage. Scale Insects: Scale insects attach to the surface of cacti, sucking the sap of the plant, leading to yellowing leaves. Cutworm Larvae: Cutworm larvae eat the leaves of cacti, causing notches in the leaves. Root Knot Nematodes: Root knot nematodes mainly damage the roots of cacti, causing root swelling and affecting the plant's absorption of water and nutrients.
Preventive Measures for Beginners:
Understand the growth habits of cacti: Beginners first need to understand the growth environment and habits of cacti, providing them with suitable growing conditions. Regular inspection: Regularly check the leaves and roots of cacti to detect signs of pest infestation. Physical control: For small pests like aphids, a soft brush or water jet can be used to wash the pests off the plant. Biological control: Use natural enemies, such as ladybugs and centipedes, to control the number of pests. Reasonable fertilization: Reasonable fertilization can enhance the pest resistance of cacti. Avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excessive plant growth, which makes it more susceptible to pests. Maintain appropriate humidity: Cacti prefer dry environments, and maintaining appropriate humidity can reduce the occurrence of pests like red spider mites. Improve ventilation: Maintaining good ventilation can reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. Prune affected branches and leaves: For branches and leaves severely infested with pests, they should be pruned and destroyed in time to prevent the spread of pests. Chemical control: In severe pest infestations, appropriate —— can be used for control. However, it is important to choose —— with minimal impact on the environment and human health and strictly follow the instructions. Regularly change the soil: Regularly replace the soil for cacti or add an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer to the soil to improve soil structure and enhance the plant's disease resistance. Avoid overwatering: Overwatering can lead to root diseases in cacti and should maintain the soil moderately moist. Keep the environment clean: Keep the growing environment of cacti clean, promptly remove fallen leaves and weeds, and reduce the breeding of pests. Monitor for pests and diseases: Regularly monitor cacti for pests and diseases, and take control measures immediately upon detection of pests. Learn related knowledge: Beginners can learn more about cacti care and pest and disease control by reading books, attending horticulture classes, or joining horticulture communities.
By taking the above measures, beginners can effectively prevent and control cactus pests and protect the healthy growth of the plants. At the same time, it is also important to observe the growth of the plants, promptly detect and solve problems, to ensure the ornamental value of cacti and the stability of the ecological environment.
The above is a specific introduction to the pests of cacti and how beginners can prevent and control them. I hope you will like it!