Kalanchoe Passion Cleta Sticky Leaves - Causes & Fixes

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Aphid Infestation

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that pierce the succulent leaves of Kalanchoe to suck out sap, excreting a sugary substance known as honeydew. This residue creates a visible sticky film on the leaf surfaces and can lead to leaf curling.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves and new growth for tiny, green or black moving insects.

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1 Spray the plant thoroughly with an organic insecticide to eliminate the aphid population and stop the production of honeydew.

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2 Wipe the sticky residue off the leaves using a soft cloth dampened with water to prevent fungal growth and allow the plant to breathe.

3 Inspect the undersides of leaves and new growth regularly to ensure no new pests are developing.

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Scale Insects

Scale insects attach themselves to the stems and leaves of Kalanchoe, feeding on plant fluids and secreting honeydew. Unlike aphids, they look like small, stationary bumps or shells on the plant surface.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Check for small, hard, brownish bumps on the stems that can be scraped off with a fingernail.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Treat the plant with an organic insecticide to eliminate the scale insects and stop the production of honeydew.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Physically remove visible scale insects from stems and leaves using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

3 Wipe the sticky residue from the leaves with a damp cloth to prevent fungal growth and allow the plant to breathe.

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Mealybug Infestation

Mealybugs are sap-sucking pests that produce honeydew as they feed on the succulent tissues of Kalanchoe. They are often accompanied by a white, cottony residue in leaf axils.

Common

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How to confirm: Look for small white, fluffy clusters tucked into the crevices where the leaves meet the stem.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately to prevent the spread of mealybugs to other houseplants and wipe away visible white cottony residue with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

2 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the entire plant, ensuring you coat the leaf axils where pests hide, to eliminate existing insects and larvae.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Clean the sticky honeydew from the leaves using a soft cloth to prevent fungal growth and allow the plant to breathe.

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Sooty Mold

While not a direct cause of stickiness, sooty mold is a black fungus that grows specifically on the honeydew left behind by sap-sucking insects. It can coat the Kalanchoe leaves in a dark, powdery substance.

Common

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How to confirm: Observe if the sticky residue is accompanied by a black, soot-like coating that can be wiped away.

build How to fix it

shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Identify and eliminate the underlying sap-sucking insects (such as aphids, scale, or mealybugs) that are producing the sticky honeydew.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Gently wipe the black sooty mold off the leaves using a soft cloth and water to restore the plant's ability to photosynthesize.

3 Monitor the plant's soil moisture levels to ensure the environment does not become too humid, which can encourage fungal growth.