Pest identification
What's eating my ghost plant?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy fluff nestled between rosette leaves or at stem bases; leaves may yellow, shrivel, or drop prematurely.
Control: Dab with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab on each bug; spray with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested leaves and repot if root mealybugs are found.
Root mealybugs
Signs: White powdery coating on roots visible at repotting; above ground the plant wilts or stalls despite correct watering.
Control: Unpot the plant, rinse roots clean, allow to dry, then repot in fresh dry succulent mix; drench with systemic insecticide or neem soil drench if infestation is severe.
Fungus gnats
Signs: Tiny flies around the pot; larvae chew shallow roots in overwatered soil, causing yellowing and poor growth.
Control: Water far less frequently — succulents need the soil to dry completely; use yellow sticky traps for adults; Bti drench for persistent larval populations.
Keep ghost plant pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Ghost Plant pests — FAQ
What is eating my ghost plant?
Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense) is a drought-tolerant succulent with few serious pest problems when kept dry. Mealybugs are the main threat, lodging between its fleshy rosette leaves. Overwatered plants attract fungus gnats, and spider mites can appear in dusty, low-humidity spots. Root mealybugs occasionally attack unseen at the roots.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on ghost plant?
White waxy fluff nestled between rosette leaves or at stem bases; leaves may yellow, shrivel, or drop prematurely. Dab with a 70% isopropyl alcohol swab on each bug; spray with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested leaves and repot if root mealybugs are found.
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on ghost plant?
White powdery coating on roots visible at repotting; above ground the plant wilts or stalls despite correct watering. Unpot the plant, rinse roots clean, allow to dry, then repot in fresh dry succulent mix; drench with systemic insecticide or neem soil drench if infestation is severe.
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on ghost plant?
Tiny flies around the pot; larvae chew shallow roots in overwatered soil, causing yellowing and poor growth. Water far less frequently — succulents need the soil to dry completely; use yellow sticky traps for adults; Bti drench for persistent larval populations.