Kalanchoe Taranta Red White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

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

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Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small, sap-sucking insects that secrete a white, waxy, cottony substance to protect themselves. In Kalanchoe species, they tend to hide in the crevices of the fleshy leaves and near the leaf axils.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a magnifying glass to check if the white spots move or are concentrated in the tight junctions between leaves and stems.

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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 waxy coating.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

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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.

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Powdery Mildew

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

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots appear more like a fine dust that can be wiped off with your finger rather than distinct 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

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2 Improve air circulation around your Kalanchoe by spacing plants further apart and reducing humidity levels.

3 Prune and discard any heavily infected foliage to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

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Cottony Blight (Sclerotinia)

While less common in succulents, certain fungal pathogens can cause white, mycelium-like growth on decaying plant tissue. This usually occurs if the base of the Kalanchoe stem is staying too wet.

Common

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How to confirm: Inspect the base of the plant for any signs of softening or mushy, dark rot beneath the white fuzz.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Prune away all affected plant tissue and any decaying stems to prevent the fungal spread.

2 Apply a fungicide to the remaining healthy tissue to combat the Sclerotinia pathogen.

Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$12

In Stock

3 Improve airflow and reduce moisture at the base of the plant by repotting in a well-draining medium containing perlite.