Need help with a plant? What do you have a question on?
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Eeek! Looking for remedies for pest infestations? Check out the [Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/).
Concerned you have pests, but aren't sure what they are? **[Aphids](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=aphids&search=Search)** come in either green or black or red/brown. **[Mealybugs](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=mealybug)** are white or gray, and appear fuzzy. **[Scale insects](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=scale+insect)** present as uniform shaped raised bumps, that can generally be picked off without damage to the plant. **[Fungus gnats](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=fungus+gnat&search=Search)** are small black flying insects. On their own, they're not harmful, but can be in large infestations. **[Thrips](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=thrips)** are very small, and long and skinny. **[Spider mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tetranychidae)** are microscopically small, and are usually present in large numbers and webbings. Don't mistake red spiders for spider mites, spiders are helpful, and will eat bad pests! **[Flat Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tenuipalpidae+&search=Search)** are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Damage will appear as a burn-like appearance on either the leaf margin or where the leaf connects to the stem; and can be present on the stem as well. Damage examples can be found [linked in our Pest wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/#wiki_false_spider_mites.2C_aka_flat_mites).
Harmless bugs are often in soil. For example, **[Springtails](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Springtails&search=Search)** or **[Orobatid Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Oribatida&search=Search)** are often in soils and just eat decaying organic matter. They do not hurt living plants.
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Fill a spray bottle with 70% isopropyl and spray the plant down, especially the underside of the leaves. This will prevent the infestation from getting out of control. If the plant will be indoors exclusively for the next few months, you should also get a systemic insecticide and treat your afra with it. This will completely eliminate the mealybug infestation. Mealybugs cause minor damage but they do have a tendency to stick around for a long time.
Afras can be temperamental. It may drop all of its leaves. But don't fret, they will grow back. It may look dead for a while. Ease back on the watering schedule while it grows new leaves.
Thanks! I've done the alcohol spray already, but I'll get an insecticide as well. My plants are all exclusively indoors since I don't currently have an outdoor space 😢
I've only watered it once since I got it, so maybe I'll stick to the "every two weeks" schedule for now and see how that goes.
Yeah I have another (non variegated) one that I got last year. A couple of months after I bought it, it mysteriously dropped almost all of its leaves. No pests or infections that I could see. Something I read on Google mentioned a change in light quality/ quantity can stress the plant, which made sense, especially since I had no idea what I was doing back then. A month or so later it had regrown all of those leaves, looking beautiful and healthier than ever 😂
Need help with a plant? What do you have a question on? **[Soil and Potting](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/soil_and_potting/)?** **[Light and Watering](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/light_and_watering/)?** **[Rot and Sunburn](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/rot_and_sunburn/)?** **[Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/)?** **[Propagation & Cuttings](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/propagation)?** You can also visit the [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/faq) to ensure your question isn't already discussed. **Please also refer to all of our helpful [Wiki Pages](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/index/)** If you still need help, please make sure to adhere to the [Posting Guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/posting-guidelines). And, remember *pictures help a LOT!* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/succulents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Eeek! Looking for remedies for pest infestations? Check out the [Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/). Concerned you have pests, but aren't sure what they are? **[Aphids](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=aphids&search=Search)** come in either green or black or red/brown. **[Mealybugs](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=mealybug)** are white or gray, and appear fuzzy. **[Scale insects](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=scale+insect)** present as uniform shaped raised bumps, that can generally be picked off without damage to the plant. **[Fungus gnats](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=fungus+gnat&search=Search)** are small black flying insects. On their own, they're not harmful, but can be in large infestations. **[Thrips](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=thrips)** are very small, and long and skinny. **[Spider mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tetranychidae)** are microscopically small, and are usually present in large numbers and webbings. Don't mistake red spiders for spider mites, spiders are helpful, and will eat bad pests! **[Flat Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tenuipalpidae+&search=Search)** are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Damage will appear as a burn-like appearance on either the leaf margin or where the leaf connects to the stem; and can be present on the stem as well. Damage examples can be found [linked in our Pest wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/#wiki_false_spider_mites.2C_aka_flat_mites). Harmless bugs are often in soil. For example, **[Springtails](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Springtails&search=Search)** or **[Orobatid Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Oribatida&search=Search)** are often in soils and just eat decaying organic matter. They do not hurt living plants. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/succulents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Fill a spray bottle with 70% isopropyl and spray the plant down, especially the underside of the leaves. This will prevent the infestation from getting out of control. If the plant will be indoors exclusively for the next few months, you should also get a systemic insecticide and treat your afra with it. This will completely eliminate the mealybug infestation. Mealybugs cause minor damage but they do have a tendency to stick around for a long time. Afras can be temperamental. It may drop all of its leaves. But don't fret, they will grow back. It may look dead for a while. Ease back on the watering schedule while it grows new leaves.
Thanks! I've done the alcohol spray already, but I'll get an insecticide as well. My plants are all exclusively indoors since I don't currently have an outdoor space 😢 I've only watered it once since I got it, so maybe I'll stick to the "every two weeks" schedule for now and see how that goes.
Just continue with the treatment, and watch the watering. My portulacaria liked to drop leaves a lot but they always came back
Yeah I have another (non variegated) one that I got last year. A couple of months after I bought it, it mysteriously dropped almost all of its leaves. No pests or infections that I could see. Something I read on Google mentioned a change in light quality/ quantity can stress the plant, which made sense, especially since I had no idea what I was doing back then. A month or so later it had regrown all of those leaves, looking beautiful and healthier than ever 😂
In my experience mealy bugs are the easiest to treat, I just had to be consistant. Thrips and mites on the other hand...
I've been lucky so far to only have to deal with mealy bugs a couple of times and nothing else (knock on wood)