Kalanchoe serrata White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

Jump to cause: Mealybug Infestation Powdery Mildew Cottony Scale

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Mealybug Infestation

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects that secrete a white, waxy, cottony substance to protect themselves. They congregate in the crevices of the Kalanchoe serrata leaves and stems, sucking sap and causing yellowing or stunted growth.

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 or neem oil to kill the insects and remove the white waxy coating.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to manually remove any visible white cottony clusters from the crevices of the stems and leaves.

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal disease manifests as white, flour-like patches on the leaf surfaces. It thrives in environments with high humidity and poor air circulation around the succulent foliage of Kalanchoe.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots appear more like a surface dust that can be wiped off rather than distinct cottony clumps.

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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

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

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

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

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

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Cottony Scale

Certain types of scale insects produce a white, filamentous coating that resembles cotton. These pests attach to the stems of the Kalanchoe and can lead to leaf drop if left untreated.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the undersides of the leaves for small, hard bumps underneath the white fuzz.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Treat the plant with an organic insecticide to eliminate the cottony scale insects and their eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

2 Manually remove visible white cottony clusters from the stems using a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

3 Isolate the affected Kalanchoe from other houseplants to prevent the scale from spreading via contact.