Pest identification
What's eating my mother of thousands?
Mealybugs
Signs: White woolly deposits among the marginal plantlets and leaf axils; sticky honeydew and slowed growth.
Control: Remove plantlets to expose hiding spots; dab with alcohol swab; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil. Repeat weekly.
Scale insects
Signs: Brown, shell-like bumps on stems; honeydew drip; stems weaken and leaves yellow over time.
Control: Scrape scales off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks until no new crawlers appear.
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Adults notch leaf edges at night; larvae in compost devour roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse.
Control: Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/autumn; check roots of any wilting plant for creamy grubs.
Keep mother of thousands pest-free
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Mother of thousands pests — FAQ
What is eating my mother of thousands?
Mother of Thousands (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) has succulent, mildly toxic leaves that deter most pests. Mealybugs are the main indoor enemy, hiding in leaf axils and among the tiny plantlets along leaf margins. Scale and vine weevil occasionally attack. Outdoors in frost-free climates, scale and aphids can appear on new growth.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on mother of thousands?
White woolly deposits among the marginal plantlets and leaf axils; sticky honeydew and slowed growth. Remove plantlets to expose hiding spots; dab with alcohol swab; spray with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil. Repeat weekly.
How do I get rid of scale insects on mother of thousands?
Brown, shell-like bumps on stems; honeydew drip; stems weaken and leaves yellow over time. Scrape scales off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray; repeat every 2 weeks until no new crawlers appear.
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on mother of thousands?
Adults notch leaf edges at night; larvae in compost devour roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse. Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/autumn; check roots of any wilting plant for creamy grubs.