Kalanchoe tomentosa White Cottony Spots - Causes & Fixes

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Mealybugs

These small, sap-sucking insects produce a white, waxy, cottony secretion to protect themselves and their eggs. They often congregate in the crevices of the Kalanchoe's fuzzy leaves, feeding on plant juices and weakening the stem.

Very Common

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How to confirm: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab the 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 their eggs.

Bonide Captain Jack's Neem Oil 32 oz

0.9 L • 1 pcs • Organic

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

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Powdery Mildew

This fungal pathogen manifests as white, flour-like patches on the leaf surface. While Kalanchoe are succulents and somewhat resistant, high humidity and poor airflow can trigger outbreaks.

Common

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How to confirm: Check if the white spots look like a fine dust that can be wiped off easily without leaving behind sticky residue.

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1 Apply an organic fungicide to the affected leaves to eliminate the fungal 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 the plant and reduce humidity by avoiding overhead watering.

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

Gonicc 8" Titanium Bypass Pruners GPPS-1003

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Cottony Blight (Botrytis)

In high-moisture environments, Botrytis can cause fuzzy, greyish-white mold to form on decaying plant tissue. This often starts at the base of the leaves or where water sits in the leaf axils.

Common

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How to confirm: Examine the base of the leaves for any signs of soft, brownish rot accompanying the white fuzz.

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shopping_cart Recommended Products

1 Prune away all affected leaves and decaying plant tissue immediately to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy parts of the Kalanchoe.

2 Apply an organic fungicide to the plant to control the spread of the blight and protect remaining healthy tissue.

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 watering frequency to ensure water does not sit in the leaf axils.