How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs On Jade Plants [Useful Tips]

The Jade plant makes an attractive choice for an indoor plant. Besides its beautiful pink blossoms, the plant also has low maintenance requirements. If you are growing Jade plants indoors or possibly outdoors, chances of your plant getting mealybugs infestations are high

How to get rid of mealybugs on Jade Plants? The best way to get rid of mealybugs on your Jade plants is by using chemical insecticides and pesticides. Chemical methods can damage your Jade plants as they are sensitive to chemicals. The best and most effective way to eradicate these tiny bugs is by using non-chemical methods.

Mealybugs can spread rapidly from one Jade plant to the other. Containing these pests can be difficult, especially for those who haven’t experienced a mealybug infestation before, but it can be done. Let’s discuss how.

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How Can I Detect A Mealybug Infestation On My Jade Plants?

Detecting a mealybug infestation isn’t easy for many people because generally, the infestation is under the leaves of your Jade plants. The easiest way to detect a mealybug infestation on your Jade plants is by checking the damage these bugs cause to your plants.

Your plants will have yellow and withered leaves when they have an infestation. Moreover, your Jade plants will exhibit black mold and distorted growth following a mealybug infestation.

Read How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Jade Plant

How Can I Get Rid Of Mealybugs Infestations On My Jade Plants?

As mentioned earlier, the best way to eliminate mealybugs from your Jade plants is through insecticides and pesticides. Pay a visit to your friendly local Garden Centre for expert advice on which chemicals to use to get rid of these bothersome pests!

If you are not a fan of chemicals, there are several non-chemical options for eliminating mealybugs from Jade plants. Check these non-chemical methods below on how to eliminate mealybug infestations from your Jade plants.

1. Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol can help remove mealybug infestation from your Jade plants. Although alcohol can take long to eliminate pest infestations on succulent plants, it’s 100% safe for such delicate plants. Start with soaking a cotton swab in alcohol and then rub it on the mealybug-affected areas of your plants.

Rub the alcohol thoroughly on all affected areas for alcohol to effectively remove the bugs. Alcohol works best in eliminating mealybugs on newly infected Jade plants.

However, alcohol is almost ineffective in removing bugs from older plants with a severe mealybug infestation. Nonetheless, avoid using highly-concentrated alcohol on your plants lest it ruins the plants thoroughly.

Read Why Jade Plant Leaves Turning Black

2. Neem Oil

Neem oil offers an effective way of dealing with indoor plant infections, thanks to its non-toxic nature. You can use Neem oil in the form of a foliar spray or a soak oil to get rid of mealybug infestation in Jade plants.

Jade plants are sensitive to concentrated Neem oil, and thus you should first dilute the Neem oil before using it on your plants.

Mix ½ a teaspoon of pure insecticidal soap and pure castile soap with water in a water dish. Add a few tablespoons of pure Neem oil to the mixture. The mixture will lose surface tension, which in return will enable the Neem oil to mix effectively.

Gently rub the mixture on all the affected areas of your Jade plants. Kindly note that Neem oil won’t get rid of mealybugs immediately. You need to treat your plants with Neem oil for at least a fortnight to see tangible results.

Nonetheless, Neem oil will be effective for over three weeks, and it will eliminate all pests that can potentially ruin your plants.

Read Are Jade Plants Poisonous

3. Liquid Soap

Mild liquid soap can instantly kill mealybugs on contact. Mild liquid soap is equally effective as insecticidal soap in eliminating mealybugs and other pests. Apply mild soap thoroughly on the affected plant areas using a cotton swab.

Be mindful of the type of mild soap you use on your plants. Some mild soaps contain harmful detergents and degreasers that can ruin your plants.

4. Vegetable Oil

Like mild liquid soap, vegetable oil acts as a tremendous non-chemical insecticide for eliminating annoying mealybugs. Vegetable oil is also suitable for ridding your indoor succulents, nasty mites, whiteflies, and aphids. Mix a few teaspoons of vegetable oil with warm soapy water. Spray the resulting mixture on your Jade plants using a hand spray.

Pay attention to the bottom of the leaves while spraying your plants since mealybugs are fond of such places. You should also spray the stems if your plants have a severe mealybug infestation.

Don’t spray your plants during the day since they are exposed to direct sunlight during the daytime hours. Instead, spray your plants during the morning and evening hours.

Read Jade Plant Wilting – Reasons and Fixes

5. Hot Pepper Spray

Pepper has a burning effect on mealybugs. You can try a homemade hot pepper spray to deter mealybugs from damaging your Jade plants. Mix hot pepper with water and then steep the mixture for at least a week. Spray the hot pepper spray on your plants for two weeks continuously using a hand spray.

6. Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soaps also help with eliminating mealybugs from Jade plants. Try a homemade insecticidal soap to deter bugs from ruining your plants. For instance, you can use a dish Ivory Liquid or any other dish detergents to make homemade insecticidal soap.

Nonetheless, use an insecticidal soap that doesn’t contain additives and perfumes since these two can harm your plants in the long run. Mix your insecticidal soap with water to dilute the soap. Mix the insecticidal soap in a ratio of one teaspoon of soap per gallon of water.

Put the soap solution in a hand spray and then spray it on your plants.

Read How often to water jade plant?

7. Homemade Insect Spray

Use onion, garlic, and cayenne pepper to make a homemade insect spray. Blend the ingredients in a blender or food processor until they turn into a thick paste. Mix the paste with a gallon of water and then steep for at least one hour.

Strain the mixture through a clean cheesecloth before adding a tablespoon of liquid soap. Spray the homemade insect spray on your plants for one week, particularly on areas with severe mealybug infestations.

Read How To Revive A Jade Plant

How To Prevent Mealybugs From Attacking Your Jade Plants

You can use these strategies below to prevent possible mealybug infestations on your Jade plants.

Feed and water your plants less frequently to deny mealybugs favorable living conditions.
Wipe foliage from your plants more frequently using Neem oil to prevent possible mealybug infestations.
Eliminate severely infested Jade plants from your home to prevent mealybugs from spreading to other healthy plants.
Treat your plants with organic pesticides regularly to protect them from mealybugs and other malicious pests.

How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs On Jade Plants

Conclusion

The presence of mealybugs can spell doom to your Jade plants. These tiny bugs will ultimately ruin your plants if you fail to take action swiftly. Worse still, a mealybug infestation can quickly spread to other indoor plants in your home or office.

Thus, consider eliminating mealybugs from your plants as soon as you notice their presence. Furthermore, it would be best to take proactive action to protect your plants from these bugs. Hence, it is vital to treat your plants regularly since Jade plants are prone to mealybug infestations.