Eruca sativa White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Powdery Mildew Mealybugs Cottony Scale

search Possible Causes

error

Powdery Mildew

This fungal disease is common in arugula when humidity is high and air circulation is poor. It manifests as white, flour-like patches on the surface of leaves, which can eventually lead to leaf yellowing and stunted growth.

Very Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves for a fuzzy white coating that doesn't wipe off easily with water.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Immediately remove and discard all heavily infected leaves to prevent the fungal spores from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

2 Apply an organic fungicide to the remaining foliage to control the spread of the mildew.

Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

3 Improve air circulation around your arugula by spacing plants further apart and ensure the area has low humidity.

warning

Mealybugs

These small insects secrete a white, waxy, cottony substance to protect themselves as they feed on the plant's sap. In arugula, they often congregate at the base of leaves or near the stem, causing localized wilting.

Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Look for tiny, slow-moving white insects nestled in the leaf axils or under the foliage.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Isolate the arugula plant immediately to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to other nearby greenery.

2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide to eliminate the insects and their waxy coating.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Gently wipe away visible white cottony masses using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to kill the pests on contact.

warning

Cottony Scale

Certain scale insect species produce a white, fluffy mass that looks like cotton patches on the arugula leaves. This feeding habit disrupts the plant's ability to transport nutrients, leading to leaf deformation.

Common

lightbulb

How to confirm: Check for small, raised bumps under the white fluff that remain attached to the leaf surface even when disturbed.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the affected leaves to eliminate the scale insects and their white, cottony masses.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Carefully prune and dispose of heavily infested leaves to prevent the scale from spreading to healthy parts of the arugula plant.

3 Monitor the plant regularly using a spray bottle to maintain humidity, which can help prevent further pest outbreaks.