Kalanchoe Rosalina Don Sergio 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 sap, excreting a sugary substance known as honeydew. This residue is the primary cause of stickiness on the leaf surfaces.

Very Common

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

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

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

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2 Wipe the sticky residue off the leaves using a soft cloth dampened with water or insecticidal soap to prevent fungal growth.

3 Inspect nearby plants and use yellow sticky traps to capture any remaining flying aphids or adults.

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Scale Insects

Scale insects attach themselves to the stems and leaves of Kalanchoe, feeding on phloem sap and producing honeydew as a byproduct. Unlike aphids, they may appear as stationary, shell-like bumps.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Look for small, brownish, scale-like bumps on the stems or leaf petioles that do not move when prodded.

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1 Apply an organic insecticide spray to the plant to kill the scale insects and their eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

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

3 Wipe away the sticky honeydew residue from the leaves to prevent fungal growth and restore photosynthesis.

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Mealybugs

Mealybugs are sap-sucking pests that produce honeydew, often accompanied by a white, cottony waxy coating on the plant tissues.

Common

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How to confirm: Check the leaf axils (where leaves meet the stem) for white, fluffy clusters.

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1 Inspect the plant for white, cottony clusters and treat the infestation immediately with an organic insecticide spray to kill adult bugs and larvae.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Wipe the sticky leaves and stems with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the protective waxy coating of the mealybugs.

3 Prune away any heavily infested or dead plant tissue to prevent the pests from spreading to nearby healthy plants.

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Sooty Mold

While not the primary cause of stickiness, sooty mold is a black fungus that grows specifically on the honeydew left behind by sucking insects. The stickiness is actually the food source for the mold.

Common

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How to confirm: Observe if the sticky residue is covered by a dark, velvety black coating on the leaf surface.

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1 Identify and eliminate the underlying pests, such as aphids, scale, or whiteflies, which are secreting 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 dampened with water or a mild insecticidal soap to allow the plant to breathe.