Kalanchoe Passion Dione White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

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

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance to protect themselves. They congregate in the tight crevices between the succulent leaves and stem nodes of Kalanchoe.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab the white 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/miticide 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 leaf crevices and stem nodes.

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal pathogen creates a flour-like coating on leaf surfaces, often triggered by high humidity and poor air circulation around the dense foliage of Kalanchoe.

Common

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

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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 Copper Fungicide 32 oz

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

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

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Cottony Blight (Sclerotinia)

While rarer in succulents, certain fungal infections can cause white, mycelium-like growth on decaying plant tissue, often starting at the base of the leaves.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the base of the stem for any signs of soft, mushy rot beneath the white fuzzy patches.

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1 Prune and remove all infected plant tissue immediately, ensuring you sterilize your tools with alcohol between cuts to prevent spreading the fungus.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

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$13

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2 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected area and surrounding healthy leaves to control the spread of the blight.

Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

3 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce humidity to create an environment less hospitable to fungal growth.