The easy-care and robust aloe vera has been a trendy houseplant for several years. Diseases or pest infestations rarely occur, but cannot be ruled out. That's why white flakes on aloe require quick action.
Where do white flakes on aloe vera come from?
White flakes on aloe vera aremealybugsThe pests feed on the plant sap. If the plant lice are not controlled, the infestation leads to thedeath of the aloe vera A proven home remedy against the plague is brushing or wiping the leaves with soapy water.
What is behind white flakes on aloe vera?
If you notice white flakes on your aloe vera, it is amealybug infestationThe animals are two to three millimeters long. Their common names “mealybug” and “mealybug” go back to the woolly and greasy hair of the insects. Mealybugs prefer warm and dry conditions, which is why they mainly occur in winter (keyword: dry heating air). Since the wool spots are hard to see at first, the pests spread quickly. Sticky spots are often the first indication of an infestation.
How do I get rid of the white flakes on the aloe vera?
Help against mealybugs on aloe veravarious measureswhichdepending on the infestation pressure are used.
Slight infestation
- Prick the white flakes into the ball of wool with a toothpick or sharp pencil
- Spray aloe vera with soapy water (€19.00 on Amazon) (15 ml of potassium soap per liter of water)
Medium infestation
If piercing the lice becomes too laborious, the following measures are more effective:
- Brush off white flakes from the leaves
- Then wipe with soapy water
- Spray inaccessible areas with soapy water
Severe infestation
- Cut off severely affected aloe vera leaves
- Dispose of in household waste
- Treat remaining leaves as for weak or medium infestation
How do I prevent an infestation with the white flakes?
Since mealybugs can survive poor environmental conditions for months, you should look out for white flakes or sticky honeydew spots whenbuyaloe vera. If your plants are he althy, you can prevent infestation with the rightcare. The latter includes:
- choose the right location for the aloe vera
- fertilizing your houseplant regularly
- Water aloe vera according to your needs
Tip
Repotting aloe vera
If mealybugs have nested on the aloe vera, you should consider repotting the houseplant. With these measures you take action against the offspring of plant lice, which are often found in the substrate and damage the roots. To ensure that it does not move when repotting, the plant roots must be rinsed with water beforehand.
