Crassula ovata Gollum White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Powdery Mildew Scale Insects

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance to protect themselves. They feed on the sap of the Gollum Jade, often congregating in the crevices where the finger-like leaves meet the stem.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab the spots; if they dissolve and turn brown, it is likely mealybugs.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to your other houseplants.

2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide or neem oil to kill the insects and their protective waxy coating.

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3 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove any visible white cottony clusters from the crevices of the leaves.

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal disease manifests as a white, flour-like coating on the surface of the leaves. It typically thrives in high humidity and poor air circulation around the succulent's foliage.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots look like a dusty film that can be wiped off easily without leaving sticky residue or insect bodies.

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1 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected leaves to eliminate the powdery mildew spores and prevent further spread.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce humidity by avoiding overhead watering and ensuring the plant is not crowded.

3 Prune and dispose of any heavily infected leaves to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy foliage.

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Scale Insects

While scale often appears as hard bumps, some species produce fine white filaments or appear as white fuzzy patches during certain life stages. They attach themselves to the stems of the Crassula ovata to suck nutrients.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the stems for small, stationary bumps that do not move when disturbed by a fingernail.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Treat the plant with an organic insecticide spray to eliminate the scale insects and their life stages.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Manually remove visible white patches and scale insects from the stems using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

3 Inspect nearby plants and clean the area to prevent the pests from spreading to your other greenery.