Pest identification
What's eating my gibbaeum album?
Mealybugs
Signs: White waxy deposits in the body fissure and around the base; honeydew; bodies shrivel or split unusually
Control: Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a fine cotton swab to colonies; spray neem oil; repeat every 7–10 days
Root mealybugs
Signs: Progressive wilting and failure to plump up after watering; white powder on roots at repotting
Control: Remove plant, shake off all old soil, soak roots in insecticidal solution, repot in clean gritty compost
Fungus gnats
Signs: Adult flies around pot surface; larval feeding on fine roots causes yellowing and poor growth
Control: Allow soil to dry completely between waterings; apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench; use yellow sticky traps
Keep gibbaeum album pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Gibbaeum album pests — FAQ
What is eating my gibbaeum album?
Gibbaeum album is a white-bodied South African mesemb grown indoors. Like all Gibbaeum, it is most at risk from mealybugs concealed in the crevice between the paired bodies. Root mealybugs are a serious hidden danger. Overwatering during dormancy (summer) can also lead to fungus gnat infestations and root rot.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on gibbaeum album?
White waxy deposits in the body fissure and around the base; honeydew; bodies shrivel or split unusually Apply 70% isopropyl alcohol with a fine cotton swab to colonies; spray neem oil; repeat every 7–10 days
How do I get rid of root mealybugs on gibbaeum album?
Progressive wilting and failure to plump up after watering; white powder on roots at repotting Remove plant, shake off all old soil, soak roots in insecticidal solution, repot in clean gritty compost
How do I get rid of fungus gnats on gibbaeum album?
Adult flies around pot surface; larval feeding on fine roots causes yellowing and poor growth Allow soil to dry completely between waterings; apply Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) drench; use yellow sticky traps