Kalanchoe thyrsiflora White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

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Mealybugs

These small, soft-bodied insects produce a white, waxy, cottony secretion to protect themselves. In Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, they tend to cluster in the crevices between the large, succulent paddle leaves and near the base of the plant.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a toothpick to gently probe the white spots; if they move or flatten easily, it is likely an insect infestation.

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1 Isolate the plant immediately from other greenery to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to your entire collection.

2 Treat the infestation by spraying the plant with an organic insecticide/miticide to eliminate the insects and their waxy secretions.

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3 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to manually remove visible white cottony clusters from the crevices of the paddle leaves.

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal pathogen manifests as a white, dusty coating on the leaf surfaces. While more common in high humidity, it can affect the flat surfaces of Paddle Plants when airflow is restricted.

Common

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How to confirm: Rub a finger across the white spot; if it wipes off like fine dust and leaves a clean surface underneath, it is likely fungal.

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1 Treat the affected leaves immediately with an organic fungicide to stop the spread of the fungal spores.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

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2 Improve air circulation around the plant and reduce humidity by avoiding overhead watering on the flat leaf surfaces.

3 Prune and dispose of any heavily infected leaves to prevent the pathogen from spreading to healthy foliage.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

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Cottony Blight (Botrytis)

In conditions of high moisture and poor ventilation, Botrytis can cause grayish-white, fuzzy growth on decaying plant tissue. This often begins at the edges of the thick paddles where water may collect.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots are accompanied by soft, mushy, or decaying areas on the leaf margins.

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1 Prune away all affected paddle edges and decaying tissue using sterilized shears to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.

Fiskars 5/8" Bypass Pruning Shears

Cutting Tools

$13

In Stock

2 Apply an organic fungicide spray to the remaining plant tissue to control existing spores and protect against new infections.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

$10

In Stock

3 Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid overhead watering, ensuring water does not collect in the crevices of the thick paddles.