Crassula ovata White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybugs Powdery Mildew Cottony Blight (Sclerotinia)

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Mealybugs

These small, white, sap-sucking insects produce a waxy, cottony secretion to protect themselves. They congregate in the crevices of the Jade plant's stems and leaf axils, feeding on the plant's juices and causing leaves to yellow or drop.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a magnifying glass to check if the white spots move or are concentrated in the tight junctions between leaves and stems.

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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 waxy coatings.

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3 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove visible white cottony clusters from the stems and leaf crevices.

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal disease manifests as a fine, white dusty coating on the leaf surfaces. In Crassula ovata, it often appears when there is high humidity paired with poor air circulation around the fleshy leaves.

Common

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How to confirm: Rub the white spot with your finger; if it wipes off like dust rather than appearing as a thick mass, it is likely fungal.

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1 Treat the affected leaves immediately with an organic fungicide to stop the spread of the fungal spores.

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2 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce humidity by avoiding overhead watering on the foliage.

3 Prune away any heavily infected leaves using sterilized shears to prevent the mildew from spreading to healthy parts of the Jade plant.

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Cottony Blight (Sclerotinia)

While rarer in succulents, certain fungal pathogens can create white, mycelium-like growth on decaying plant tissue. This usually follows an instance of stem rot caused by overwatering.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the base of the stems to see if the white growth is accompanied by soft, darkened, or mushy flesh.

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1 Immediately prune away all affected stems and decaying tissue using sterilized shears to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.