Aloe vera is actually very robust. Although it is rarely the target of pests, a lice infestation can certainly occur. If a lot of lice attack you, you should react.
How do I remove and prevent lice from aloe vera?
To remove lice from aloe vera, moisten a cloth with rubbing alcohol and rub the leaves thoroughly. Repeat this for several days, cutting off severely infected leaves if necessary. Horsetail manure as fertilizer helps prevent louse infestation.
How do I recognize lice on aloe vera?
You can recognize a lice infestation by thesticky coating on the leaves of the aloe vera. These residues are lice excretions. If the leaves are coated with honeydew, the plant's metabolism is slowed down and fungal attack is encouraged. The coating then turns darker in color. If the residue has turned a dark color, the plant may have already been infected by the sooty mold fungus. The lice themselves are so small that they cannot be seen with the eye.
How do I treat an aloe vera that has been infested with lice?
Help the aloe vera by thoroughlycleaningthe leaves orcutting off heavily infected leaves. First, try cleaning the leaves from the lice. Proceed as follows:
- Moisten a cloth with rubbing alcohol.
- Rub the aloe vera leaves thoroughly.
- Repeat this action several times on the following days.
- Check that the leaves remain clean.
If this measure doesn't work, you should cut the plant back. You should always remove particularly badly affected leaves.
How do I avoid a louse infestation on aloe vera?
Fertilize the aloe vera withHorsetail manure to prevent lice. The home remedy helps sustainably against the mealybug. You should also pay attention to the following factors to avoid future aphid infestation:
- do not place in dark locations
- Avoid fertilizers containing nitrogen
- do not keep the heating air too dry
When do lice attack aloe vera?
Aloe vera is typically infested with licein winter. If the succulent is left as a houseplant in an environment with dry heating air during this time, this can promote lice infestation. Lice infestations therefore often occur seasonally. If you occasionally spray the leaves of the aloe vera lightly with water in winter, you can specifically increase the humidity. However, please note that the plant should not be watered too much in winter.
Tip
Quick response pays off
If you have a lice infestation, you should react quickly. Otherwise, the pests may spread to other plants besides the aloe vera. The next plant to be attacked may not be as hardy as this succulent.
