\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. There are numerous kinds of insects that may be chomping down on your cacti and don’t get me wrong, and there is nothing more infuriating, especially when you are a plant mom or dad. Using the garlic water in soil plants, you’ll be able to treat both nematode problems and get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants. As a self-described plant doctor, he believes in the therapeutic power of plants, hoping to keep sharing his love of plants with anyone willing to listen and learn. Use water spurts to get rid of preparatory infestations. If these methods don’t wipe out all the bugs, you may need to try an insecticide. How to Exterminate Cactus Coreid Bugs. While you can almost always bring a plant back to full health with a change of conditions, it will be forever misfigured where the etiolation occurred. Please be sure that when handling any type of herbicide, you are properly protecting your skin and eyes with safety equipment (goggles, gloves and long-sleeved clothing). wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Also, space your cacti out, and then there is a long distance for the bugs to travel from one plant to another. You can also use the swab to clean the hard to reach areas of the cactus. Virosis: Cactus Mosaic Virus: This virus’ attack is represented by diffuse, yellow colored spots. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This rule goes for other plants as well. Mealybugs are very challenging to eliminate and will need proper pesticide treatment. Do note that some succulents are sensitive to alcohol. Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. Remember that bugs crawling on the cactus aren't necessarily a sign of an infestation. Look for a pesticide treatment that is safe for your cactus and follow the directions accordingly. There’s nothing more annoying than coming home to find your favorite cactus plant in tatters because of an infestation. Mold infections can weaken the cactus and make it more susceptible to bug infestations. Non-chemical and chemical treatments Use a flat, dull blade, a butter knife, for instance, to prevent injuring the cactus skin. If your plants become severely infested, it would be best to just get rid of them. Don’t set the hose so high that it damages the plant. Therefore, you may be best simply cutting it off and pruning it. You should use vinegar on the parts of your cactus that you cannot remove the bugs from. Prickly pear cactus bugs (Chelinidea vittiger) are specialist insects that feed largely on the pads of prickly pear (Opuntia spp.). You can also use the sticky traps to catch some insects. Physical removal is the best initial treatment for bug infestations. Dab a cotton swab into the rubbing alcohol and spread it across the cactus areas that are difficult to reach. Soaps are most useful for smaller insects like mites, which are hard to remove physically. If you have not heard of insecticidal soap before, it is a weaker kind of pesticide that will kill the bugs without damaging your cactus. Treat a small spot first and let it sit for a day. There are two commonly used methods to get rid of cactus: Herbicide method and Manual Removal. We shall first have a look at each method, followed by some precautions and tips for removing the plant with ease. To ward off the cactus bugs trying to murder your cacti, you should use surface products. Another top tip is to follow the exact care guidelines for your specific cactus. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. However, a pressurized hose nozzle may damage your cactus’s roots in this instance, so it may be better to use a toothbrush. If the bugs’ physical removal has not worked and the infestation does not cover the entire plant, you could use a treatment with alcohol to kill the pests. Bugs that are trapped inside will die, and new bugs won’t be able to get in. This treatment works best for small infestations of scale insects and mealybugs. There are one of two methods where you can chemically control cacti and prickly pear. Let’s look into cactus and succulent pests and learn how to get rid of them. There are many different species that may be eating away at your cactus. Of course, if you keep your cacti indoors, you will not have a problem with animals eating your cactus. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Keep them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from cacti to prevent cactus bugs from reaching them. However, when purchasing pest control, ensure it states spider mite control; otherwise, it may not kill the spider mites. Wrap it tightly in plastic and throw it out so the mealybugs won’t pass to your other houseplants. There are many different kinds of cacti. There are many practices you can adopt to keep bugs away from your cactus, whether you choose natural methods or methods that involve the use of chemicals. This will kill any bugs that remain on the cactus. Also, treat the cacti several times to ensure that all of them, including their eggs, are dead. These insects typically attack the roots and stems of a cactus. You can also read the details of this method in the sections that follow. Here are some natural ways to eliminate your opuntia’s cochineal bug infestation: 1. If you have a mealybug infestation, a good idea would be to use systematic insecticide. Always check nearby plants for evidence of infestation. However, do not be worrying about it. 20 February 2019. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1399.pdf, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/insects/mealybugs/insect-pests-of-cacti-and-succulents.aspx, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/pesticides/soap-products.aspx, https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/landscaping/managing-insect-pests-of-cacti-and-other-succulents-in-water-efficient-landscapes/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The cactus may even die at this point. However, that does not mean you won’t have issues with common cactus bugs. Normal cactus care is usually not complicated. You should do this again every other day until all the bugs have left the cactus. Wear gloves while removing a cactus so you don’t injure yourself. Although this may not get rid of them, it will reduce the number of them. 06 of 10. Last Updated: August 24, 2020 To get rid of scale insects from your plants, rub their stems with an old toothbrush or a cotton swab dipped in Isopropyl alcohol, which will kill any insects on them. If the cactus spines puncture the bag, then double-wrap the bag to prevent the bugs from escaping. They are usually called ‘sticky tape.’ You can purchase a packet and use it as per the directions. If you see either of these things, stop using the alcohol on your cactus. Note: Before starting any procedure for killing the cactus, please make sure to wear long and thick hand gloves. You don't really need to water your cactus very often. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,331 times. Common Succulent and Cactus Pest Problems. The alcohol works well here as it burns through the white webbing for early on disposal. Chai Saechao is the Founder and Owner of Plant Therapy, an indoor-plant store founded in 2018 based in San Francisco, California. Herbicides will be able to move through the plant and destroy it totally. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. % of people told us that this article helped them. Do this treatment every few days to remove potential pests. Some insects are very good at sneaking into tiny cracks, which makes it difficult to remove them. Sticky traps are available at hardware stores or online. You can go au naturale and fight fire with fire… or bugs with bugs. This will do the trick in most instances. There are different types of bugs such as aphids, white or red spider mites, mealy bugs, whiteflies and thrips that like to feed on houseplants. Removing debris is also important for preventing mold growth. Scrape cochineal bugs off cholla and prickly pear cacti. If you have a heavy infestation outdoors, prune away the stems with the most scales. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. How to Prevent Bugs from Invading Your Cactus, How to Keep Soldier Beetles Away From your House, Carpet Beetles Control and Prevention: How to Get Rid of Them Naturally, Natural Pest Control – How to Keep Insects Away From House, 10 Treat Your Cactus With Rubbing Alcohol, 15 How to Prevent Bugs from Invading Your Cactus, How To Get Rid Of Spiders In A Car Naturally, How To Get Rid Of Wood Boring Beetles On Furniture Naturally, How To Get Rid Of Ground Beetles Naturally, How To Get Rid Of Boxelder Bugs Naturally, How To Get Rid Of Female Black Widow Naturally. Therefore, because of this, they are often very challenging to detect without unrooting or unpotting your plant, which is rather annoying. 7 Ways to Get Rid of Insects in Your House That Actually Work. Then, dip your cotton swab into it and rub it on the cactus’ spots the bugs have impacted. My cactus have been doing great for years, this month though, there are these weird bugs sucking the life out of them. Some are animals, while others are pests in the form of insects. Make sure your plant gets plenty of sun as well. Then, use a garden hose to wash away any loose insects. You can now easily resolve your all queries about how to get rid of bugs in garden soil. As a self-described plant doctor, he believes in the therapeutic power of plants, hoping to keep sharing his love of plants with anyone willing to listen and learn. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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