Pest identification
What's eating my blue chalk sticks?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony fluff at leaf bases and stem crevices; waxy blue coating may mask early infestations
Control: Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; spray with neem oil and repeat every 7–10 days
Fungus gnats
Signs: Larvae damage roots in wet succulent mix; adults swarm around the pot
Control: Water only when soil is fully dry; use yellow sticky traps and apply BTi soil drench if larvae persist
Scale insects
Signs: Brown or tan bumps on stems; weakened growth and slight yellowing of affected stems
Control: Scrape off manually with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; treat with horticultural oil spray
Keep blue chalk sticks pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Blue Chalk Sticks pests — FAQ
What is eating my blue chalk sticks?
Blue Chalk Sticks (Curio repens) is a robust succulent houseplant that is relatively pest-resistant, but mealybugs are its most likely attacker, hiding between the glaucous cylindrical leaves. Fungus gnats breed readily if kept too wet. Scale insects occasionally appear on stems. Keeping the plant slightly dry is the best defense.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on blue chalk sticks?
White cottony fluff at leaf bases and stem crevices; waxy blue coating may mask early infestations Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a cotton swab; spray with neem oil and repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on blue chalk sticks?
Larvae damage roots in wet succulent mix; adults swarm around the pot Water only when soil is fully dry; use yellow sticky traps and apply BTi soil drench if larvae persist
How do I get rid of scale insects on blue chalk sticks?
Brown or tan bumps on stems; weakened growth and slight yellowing of affected stems Scrape off manually with a toothbrush dipped in alcohol; treat with horticultural oil spray