Save my echeveria!

June 27, 2020 9:15 AM

We have a very majestic echeveria with sentimental value, and it's currently having an infestation of something. How do I fix it??

Last time it had an infestation (of furry little white things?) the thing we sprayed on it completely stripped the leaves of their waxy coating, killing them all. Fortunately the plant continued to grow new leaves and made a full recovery. I'd love to solve this infestation without stripping it bare again.

I am A-OK with using non-organic pesticides.

posted by BuddhaInABucket to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Are they only on the flowers? Or on the body of the plant as well?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:31 AM on June 27, 2020

That is a very majestic echeveria. Are the furry little white things back, or is it something else? (Did the white things look like these guys?)
posted by jameaterblues at 9:43 AM on June 27, 2020

You have a pretty advanced aphid infestation. Note the winged and wingless forms, and the clearly visible drops of sticky honeydew.
You can carefully spray them off with a sharp stream of water from a hose. You can apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, which will not kill leaves if used as directed. Both are readily available at garden centers.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:47 AM on June 27, 2020 [3 favorites]

It's for sure aphids. Neem oil is not great for succulents, insecticidal soap is also iffy. I would use a high pressure water spray a couple times and if they return then use insecticidal soap- but sparingly. If you want to go the totally natural route water spray off plus some sort of local beneficial insect might do.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:47 AM on June 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

I recommend spraying the aphids off of the plant with water for a few days in a row. I had a kale plant that was infested with aphids so I sprayed them off for 3 or 4 days and now the kale plant is happy. No more aphids!
posted by goodsearch at 12:14 PM on June 27, 2020

You could buy some ladybugs (don't use insecticide if you use ladybugs). Or use soap and water.
posted by pinochiette at 12:58 PM on June 27, 2020

The recommendations for a stiff water spray are very good; aphids are very soft-bodied and tend to not survive spraying. But, it only take a single aphid to start it all back up again, so I'd follow up with a good dusting of diatomaceous earth. It might not look terribly nice for a while, but it won't harm the plant and will take care of aphids and any other sucking insects. And handsome plant!
posted by vers at 1:08 PM on June 27, 2020 [2 favorites]

If you use diatomaceous earth, it works only when dry and only where it's placed; if it gets moist/wet it doesn't work anymore and if you miss a spot or several those areas can still be refuges. It is nice that it is easier for the plant to cope with than many liquid options though.

I have fought off aphids using a mix of a little bit of neem oil in isopropyl alcohol sprayed onto the plant from all angles. You have to apply it consistently - I would say every three days for two weeks; aphids are born pregnant and reproduce very quickly. This treatment does often hurt plants, too, as you noted happened before to you - but they usually will eventually bounce back.
posted by vegartanipla at 2:15 PM on June 27, 2020

IME, aphids particularly love weak plants. As majestic as it is, there might be some other factor that your plant is not liking.

I’d try spraying them with water and then trying to figure out if anything else is bothering the echeveria.

And if you decide to use ladybugs, release them at night or else they immediately fly off without giving the aphid buffet a second glance.
posted by Neekee at 3:09 PM on June 27, 2020

If I had a beautiful plant like this that was important to me, I would not mess around with neem oil or water spray. I’d buy the nastiest chemical in the most garish bottle and use it. I use something called Provanto Ultimate Bug Killer. I am probably shortening my life but I become unreasonable when i see aphids on my clematis. I wouldn’t use it on my tomatoes, and I wear a mask when I spray it, but it works in a couple of hours and I can get on with my life.

Take a small cutting and test the spray first for a day or two before going all in- but I have sprayed this stuff on my own echevaria, along with a few other succulents like my incredibly temperamental string of pearls, with no ill effects (except to the bugs).
posted by cilantro at 3:31 PM on June 27, 2020

Yes take cuttings and clean them now if the plant is important to you. Even if the big one manages to die you’ll have a scions to replace it :)
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:59 PM on June 27, 2020 [2 favorites]