‘TOPAZ’ SEMPERVIVUM COVERED WITH APHIDS

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 10 MINUTES

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon, AWIN, and Sovrn. As an affiliate partner, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Read my FULL DISCLOSURE HERE

Discover 7 common invaders and proven remedies to keep your plants thriving and your garden pest-free.

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY?

Treat me to a one-time coffee or support the team with a monthly donation!
Your kindness helps keep my blog thriving and allows me and my team to continue sharing gardening tips, DIY projects, and creative inspiration.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Are you a succulent enthusiast struggling to keep you Sempervivum plants thriving?

You’re not alone!

While these resilient succulents are known for their ability to withstand harsh conditions, they are not immune to pests that can wreak havoc on their health and appearance.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore some of the most common pests that affect Sempervivum plants and provide effective strategies for identifying, preventing, and managing infestations.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or new to the world of succulents, understanding these pests is essential for maintaining the beauty and vitality of your Sempervivum collection.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

NEEM OIL
INSECTICITAL SOAPS
ORGANIC INSECTISIDES
DAWN DISH SOAP AND WATER SPRAY
RUSHING WATER
RUBBING ALCOHOL
COTTON SWABS
GARDEN RAGS

WHAT WE’LL COVER

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY
INTRODUCTION
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT WE’LL COVER
IDENTIFICATION OF PESTS
ONE: APHIDS
REMEDY
USE DAWN DISH SOAP
REPLANTING AND REPLACE SOIL
STERILIZE YOUR POT
DON’T LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED
FOR EDUCATIONAL PHOTOS OF INFECTED SEMPERVIVUM PLANTS WITH APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES:
IDENTIFYING APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES: YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTO GUIDE
TWO: SLUGS AND SNAILS
REMEDY
SALT
BEER
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO KILL SLUGS AND SNAILS NATURALLY:
HOW TO GET RID OF SLUGS IN YOUR GARDEN THE NATURAL WAY
THREE: SPIDER MITES
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IDENTIFYING SPIDER MITES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION:
TWO SPOTTED SPIDER MITES IN HOME GARDEN
REMEDY
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IDENTIFYING SPIDER MITES:
IDENTIFY APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES: YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTO GUIDE
FOR MORE INFORMATION HOW TO RID SPIDER MITES:
HOW TO GET RID OF SPIDER MITES
FOUR: MEALYBUGS
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MEALYBUGS FROM WIKIPEDIA:
MEALYBUG
REMEDY
REMOVE MANUALLY WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL
INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND OILS
NATURAL PREDATOR
BE CAREFUL SELECTING YOUR REMEDY
FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS TO IDENTIFY MEALYBUGS:
PLANT PESTS: APHIDS, MEALYBUGS & HOW TO CONTROL THEM BY JOY US GARDEN
FIVE: ROOT MEALYBUGS
FOR ROOT MEALYBUGS INFORMATION FROM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, IPM AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION:
ROOT MEALYBUGS
REMEDY
REPOT
REMOVE ALL PESTS BEFORE REPOTTING
CLEAN YOUR POT WITH ALCOHOL
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT NEMATODES:
NEMATODE INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS
CONCLUSION
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
JOIN US TODAY!

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS ON SEMPERVIVUM

IDENTIFICATION OF PESTS

ONE: APHIDS

APHIDS ARE SMALL, SOFT BODIED INSECTS THAT FEEDS ON THE SAP OF PLANTS.
THEY CAN STUNT GROWTH, YELLOW LEAVES, DISTORT PLANT GROWTH AND POSSIBLY LEFT UNATTENDED CAN KILL YOUR PLANT.
I THINK OF THEM AS A PLANT VAMPIRE.
IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK YOUR NEW PLANTS THAT YOU HAVE PURCHASED AT YOUR LOCAL NURSERIES, GARDEN CENTER OR RECEIVED AS A GIFT.
BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SMALL AND CAN HIDE EASILY, SOMETIMES THEY CAN SNEAK INTO YOUR GARDEN.
BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE GROWING YOUR SEMPERVIVUM WITH OTHER PLANTS, ESPECIALLY ROSES!
APHIDS CAN BE DEADLY TO YOUR GARDEN.

REMEDY

USE DAWN DISH SOAP

LIKE MORE OF THESE PESTS YOU CAN USE, NEEM OIL, INSECTICIDAL SOAPS AND ORGANIC INSECTICIDES.
I HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH MY OWN SPRAY MADE WITH DAWN DISH SOAP AND WATER IN A SPRAY BOTTLE.
THE VERY BEST SUCCESS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF APHIDS IS TO FLUSH YOUR SEMPERVIVUM UNDER RUSHING WATER UNDER YOUR SPIGOT.

REPLANTING AND REPLACE SOIL

THIS WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT TIME TO CONSIDER REPLANTING YOUR SEMPERVIVUM IN NEW SOIL.
TO DO THIS, DISCARD YOUR OLD SOIL IN A SEALED BAG AND PUT IT IN THE GARBAGE FOR PICKUP.
REMEMBER TO CLEAN YOUR PLANTING CONTAINER COMPLETELY REMOVING ANY LEFTOVER APHIDS, EGGS, OR MICROSCOPIC ANIMALS LEFT BEHIND.

STERILIZE YOUR POT

AFTER CLEANING MY CONTAINER WITH DAWN DISH SOAP AND WATER, I ALSO USE A COTTON BALL WITH ALCOHOL AND STERILIZE MY ENTIRE POT CAREFULLY.
MARE SURE NOT OT OVERLOOK THE LIP OR YOUR DRAINAGE HOLES AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POT AS I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY CAN HID IN THIS LOCATION.
IF YOU DO THIS STERILIZATION METHOD, MAKE SURE TO LEAVE YOUR POT TO AIR DRY 24 HOURS.

QUARANTINE PLANTS

THEY REPLANT AND QUARANTINE YOUR PREVIOUSLY INFECTED PLANT.
I QUARANTINE MINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WATCHING IT CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE I HAVE DESTROYED THE APHIDS.
ONCE THEY HAVE NOT REAPPEARED, YOU CAN REINTRODUCE YOUR NEW PLANT TO YOUR GARDEN SAFELY.
IF THEY DO APPEAR, MAKE SURE TO DO THE STEPS ABOVE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ELIMINATE THEM FULLY FROM YOUR PLANTS.

DON’T LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED

LEFT UNATTENDED, I HAVE FOUND YOU WILL HAVE A MESS ON YOUR HANDS.
KEEP IN MIND, OF COURSE, YOUR VERY BEST SUCCESS WOULD BE TO PASS ON AN INFECTED PLANT.

SOURCE

FOR EDUCATIONAL PHOTOS OF INFECTED SEMPERVIVUM PLANTS WITH APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES FOR BLOG POST:

IDENTIFYING APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES: YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTO GUIDE

CLOSE-UP OF SLUGS IN RECYCLED BLACK POT

TWO: SNAILS AND SLUGS

SNAILS AND SLUGS ARE MOLLUSKS THAT ARE SOFT BODIED ANIMALS THAT DO A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE TO PLANTS.
THEY FEED ON THE TENDER SEMPERVIVUM LEAVES AND LEAVE BEHIND HOLES.
THEY ARE MOST ACTIVE AT NIGHT AND DURING HIGH HUMIDITY.
I FIND THEY LIKE TO HIDE AND BREED UNDER MY GARDEN POTS.
THEY ALSO GATHER IN MY RECYCLED POTS.
BE CAREFUL IF YOU BRING POTS INTO YOUR SHELTER OR GREENHOUSE.

REMEDIES

SALT

MAKE SURE TO REMOVE ALL SLUGS AND SNAILS FROM YOUR TARPS, TOOLS, RECYCLED POTS AND THE BOTTOM OF YOUR POTS WITH YOUR PLANTS TO PROTECTED.
ONCE REMOVED, PUT THEM IN A SEALED CONTAINER OR PUT THEM IN A CONTAINER WITH SAlt AND THEN THROUGH THEM AWAY.
BECAUSE I DO NOT USE PESTICIDES IN MY GARDEN, I REMOVE THEM WITH MY GLOVED HANDS AND PUT THEM IN A CONTAINER THAT HOLDS SALT WITH A LID.

BEER

IF YOU FIND THEM IN YOUR GARDEN, YOU CAN TRY AN OLD REMEDY THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME IN THE PAST.
POUR BEER INTO A LOW LIPPED PAN.
THEY WILL CRAWL INTO THE BEER AND DROWN.

SOURCE

**FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM SWEET LIFE AND LEMONS ABOUT HOW TO KILL SLUGS AND SNAILS NATURALLY**

CLOSE-UP OF SPIDER MITES

THREE: SPIDER MITES

I HATE SPIDER MITES!
ON THIS SEMPERVIVUM THEY ARE THE WHITE PESTS THAT LOOK SIMILAR TO A CRAB OR AS THE NAME SAYS SPIDERS.
IF THEY ARE LEFT ALONE, THEY WILL COMPLETELY COVER YOUR SEMPERVIVUM PLANTS AND UNFORTUNATELY OTHER PLANTS TOO.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IDENTIFYING SPIDER MITES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION:

TWO SPOTTED SPIDER MITES IN HOME GARDEN

REMEDY TO KILL SPIDER MITES

IT IS MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION THAT AT THE FIRST SITE OF THESE INVASIVE DISGUSTING PESTS YOU IMMEDIATELY MUST START TO ERADICATE AND DESTROY THEM.
I HAVE FOUND THEM EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO KILL AND I HATE THEM!
TRY NOT OT REMOVE THEM BY HAND BECAUSE ONCE THEY ARE DISTURBED, THEY SPREAD QUICKLY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IDENTIFYING SPIDER MITES SEE MY BLOG POST:

IDENTIFY APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES: YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTO GUIDE

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE SPRUCE HOW TO RID SPIDER MITES:

HOW TO GET RID OF SPIDER MITES

CLOSE-UP OF MEALYBUGS ON SEMPERVIVUM

FOUR: MEALYBUGS

IF YOU SEE A WHITE, POWDERY, COTTONY, WAXY APPEARANCE YOU PROBABLY HAVE MEALYBUGS THAT HIDE IN CREVICES, CAUSING STUNTED GROWTH, WILTING, AND YELLOWING LEAVES.
IN ONTHER WORDS, KILLING YOUR PLANT SLOWLY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MEALYBUGS FROM WIKIPEDIA:

MEALYBUG

REMEDY

REMOVE MANUALLY WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL

MANUALLY REMOVE BUGS WITH A COTTON SWAB DIPPED IN RUBBING ALCOHOL.
THIS WILL KILL THEM ON CONTACT!
YES, IT IS TIME CONSUMING BUT WELL WORTH IT!

INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND OILS

INSECTICIDAL SOAPS AND OILS CAN EFFECTIVELY CONTROL MEALYBUGS.
THESE SOAPS AND OILS WORK BY SUFFOCATING THE INSECTS AND DISRUPT THEIR CELL MEMBRANES.
BE CAREFUL TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROPERLY ON THE LABEL SO THAT YOU DO NOT DAMAGE YOUR PLANTS.
NEEM OIL IS A NATURAL INSECTICIDE THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST MEALYBUGS.
LIKE INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND OILS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS PROPERLY ON THE LABEL.

NATURAL PREDATOR

LADYBUGS ARE A WONDERFUL PREDATOR OF MEALYBUGS AS ARE PRAYING MANTISES.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS HOW TO KEEP YOUR LADYBUGS AND PRAYING MANTISES IN YOUR GARDEN AFTER THEY HAVE REMOVED THE MEALYBUGS.

BE CAREFUL SELECTING YOUR REMEDY

ALSO REMEMBER THAT WHAT KILLS MEALYBUGS CAN ALSO KILL YOUR LADYBUGS AND PRAYING MANTISES.
SO, BE CAREFUL NOT TO KILL YOUR NATURAL PREDATORS.
IN ANY OF THE REMEDIES ABOVE, MAKE SURE YOU ISOLATE YOUR PLANTS AND INSPECT THEM REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REMOVED COMPLETELY FROM YOUR PLANT.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MEALYBUGS FROM WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE, DIVISION OF EXTENSION:

WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE, DIVISION OF EXTENSION, MEALYBUGS

FIVE: ROOT MEALYBUGS

UNLIKE THE COMMON MEALYBUGS, THEY INFEST THE ROOTS OF THE SEMPERVIVUM.
THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE ROOT DAMAGE, LEADING TO STUNNED GROWTH, WILTING AND THE DECLINE OF THE PLANTS.

FOR ROOT MEALYBUGS INFORMATION FROM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, IPM AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION:

ROOT MEALYBUGS

REMEDY

REPOT

BECAUSE ROOT MEALYBUGS ARE IN THE SOIL, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION I WOULD MAKE IS TO REPOT YOUR PLANT IN NEW CLEAN SOIL.

REMOVE ALL PESTS BEFORE REPOTTING

MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU REPLANT YOUR SEMPERVIVUM OR OTHER PLANT YOU REMOVE ALL SOIL AND WASH IT UNDER RAPIDLY RUNNING WATER TO REMOVE ALL POSSIBLE PESTS.
ONCE THE ROOTS AND PLANT HAS BEEN CLEANED, IT WILL BE SAFE TO REPOT THE PLANT IN NEW SOIL.

CLEAN YOUR POT WITH ALCOHOL

IF YOU PLAN TO USE THE SAME POT, IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU CLEAN THE POT WITH ALCOHOL.
I WOULD ALSO ADD BENEFICIAL NEMATODES AND PREDATORY MITES TO FEED ON THE ROOT MEALYBUGS.
THESE BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS CAN HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ROOT MEALYBUGS AND PROVIDE ONGOING CONTROL IN THE SOIL ECOSYSTEMS.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT NEMATODES:

NEMATODE INFORMATION

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

SELECT PRODUCTS SAFE FOR BEES, BUTTERFLIES AND HUMMINGBIRDS
CONSIDER USING NATURAL PREDITORS SUCH AS LADYBUGS AND PRAYING MANTIS OVER CHEMICALS
BEFORE PURCHASING A PLANT CHECK THE PLANTS SOIL, UNDER THE LEAVES AND IN TIGHT LOCATIONS FOR HIDING PESTS
NO MATTER HOW RARE THE PLANT, IF IT IS CONTAMINATED, PASS ON IT.
KEEP A CALENDAR, RECORDING YOUR NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE PROCESS

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, while dealing with pests can be frustrating.

It’s essential to remain vigilant and proactive protecting your Sempervivum and other plants in your garden.

By inspecting your plants daily and implementing preventive care you can effectively manage pests.

Remember, a little knowledge and care go a long way in keeping your garden thriving for years to come.

Happy gardening!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Wild West Succulents participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as well as affiliate programs with AWIN and Sovrn Holdings, Inc. These programs allow us to earn fees by linking to partner sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

We only recommend products we genuinely believe will add value. Your support through these links helps us create more helpful content on gardening, DIY projects, and crafts.

Thank you for your trust!

For our full copyright and disclosure policy, please see our ABOUT PAGE LINKED HERE

JOIN US TODAY!

Connect with succulent lovers like you.

Let’s grow together!

INTRODUCTION

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

WHAT WE’LL COVER

IDENTIFICATION OF PESTS

ONE: APHIDS

REMEDY

USE DAWN DISH SOAP

REPLANTING AND REPLACE SOIL

STERILIZE YOUR POT

QUARANTINE PLANTS

DON’T LEAVE THEM UNATTENDED

SOURCE

TWO: SNAILS AND SLUGS

REMEDIES

SALT

BEER

SOURCE

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM SWEET LIFE AND LEMONS ABOUT HOW TO KILL SLUGS AND SNAILS NATURALLY

THREE: SPIDER MITES

REMEDY TO KILL SPIDER MITES

FOUR: MEALYBUGS

REMEDY

REMOVE MANUALLY WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL

INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND OILS

NATURAL PREDATOR

BE CAREFUL SELECTING YOUR REMEDY

FIVE: ROOT MEALYBUGS

REMEDY

REPOT

REMOVE ALL PESTS BEFORE REPOTTING

CLEAN YOUR POT WITH ALCOHOL

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

CONCLUSION

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

JOIN US TODAY!

Join the List

Latest on Instagram

**FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM SWEET LIFE AND LEMONS ABOUT HOW TO KILL SLUGS AND SNAILS NATURALLY**