Question
hi, i recently noticed that some of my small cactus and
succulents seemed less vigorous than normal. on
inspection of the roots of the cactus, i found that there
were small white things that looked like eggs around the
outside of the soil,and on removing some of the soil onto
white paper, i could see very tiny black crawling bugs, they
actually looked like specks of dust, but were moving
around. i don't know what these are,  i have totally removed
the soil from the worst infected of them all (the one i
inspected) and have it sitting on paper with its roots
drying.also, one of them has a kind of cotton wool like
substance around the spines, but has had this as long as i
remember, and i thought to be normal.  i also notice that
they are discolouring somewhat towards the bottoms of the
stems and beginning to look a little wrinkled. please help
me as i really want to save these plants. is repotting an
option, or are cuttings the only way to go?
i also have a sempervivum feldmaier(?) who has small white
deposits on her leaves. when i examined one through a
small handheld scope, it looked like a small insect. she also
seems less vigorous and her offsets seem to be growing
long stems and hanging down over the edges of the pot,
and she has little raised spots on her leaves. and also a
sedum oreganum with a similar problem, who's leaves drop
very easily and also has the white looking deposit on the
leaves. the sedum is still growing, but just seems a little
off. i hope you can help,

thanks,
elaine

Answer
Dear Elaine,

First allow me please to apologize for the delay in my response. Your patience is appreciated.

It sounds as if you have two problems - some sort of bug that's enjoying the peat in your soil is your first (perhaps - I am no bug expert). I would get a porous mix for your cacti, one that doesn't contain a lot of peat. Or use your existing mix and cut it with perlite, small gravel/builder's sand, in order to increase the porosity. Additionally, when you've repotted your plants, use gravel on top of the soil, to about a depth of 1/2", as a top dressing. The cotton wool sounds like mealy bugs.

Your second sounds like mealy bugs on your Semp. Treat with Safer's Soap (OK to use) or begin that delicate task by spraying the affected plant with alocohol and picking them off with tweezers or a pin. Keep treating for a few days, but make sure your plant doesn't go in the sun until you've blasted it with some water. Alcohol-sprayed plants are susceptible to severe burn if put out in the sun too soon after treating.

HTH,

Jeff