I'd suggest that just being observant of the plants on a weekly basis is a better preventative. Most aren't likely to struggle with insect infestations unless they are grown too crowded, or inside a green house with insufficient air circulation, or the plants were bought infested or are touching each other on a greenhouse bench.

The biggest problem I ever have with them indoors is usually mealybugs, and root mealybugs are the worst. Scale only seems to be much of a problem with cactus, and aphids can usually be handled just by hosing plants off. A diluted spray of rubbing alcohol can handle new infestations, or using something low level toxicity like Safer's Soap.

Personally when I find myself having to deal with root mealybugs, I will either isolate the plant, or try to reroot it entirely rather than deal with treatment. Making sure they don't spread is much easier if you never let it get out of hand. Baiting for snails and slugs is also smart preventative maintenance. Outdoors, I can't say that I ever have much problems with insects on succulents besides aphids from time to time. We don't tend to have the worst of the Agave associated pests that are found in their native habitat, and Aloes may sometimes have mites or Aloe cancer which again is best contained by isolating or destroying the infected plants.

I whole-heartedly agree: prevention is the key. Give your plants as much natural sun, wind and rain as possible.

Make sure you water adequately. A thirsty plant has juices that are highly concentrated and thus more enticing to sucking pests (mealies, mites, aphids).

For the occasional pest, a number of things will work: diluted alcohol, soaps, oils, etc. Just be careful with plants that have a waxy or powdery coating.

If your plants suffer frequently, it is a sign that culturally something is amiss.

For really tough pests like root mealies, you can consider using imidacloprid on the entire collection to prevent a recurrence.

x

Bahia, xerophyte nyc - thanks for the advice.

As a side note, I am using Neem 'green light' with water/alcohol/soap to deal with some spider mites on few aloes.

There is a product called Antistress 2000, an anti-dessicant polymer, that incidentally kills mites.
It is completely safe. It is not a pesticide. Somehow it either chokes the mite mouth parts, or it makes plant tissues unpalatable. The mechanism is not understood, but it worked for me.

I had a bad mite outbreak 2 summers ago, out of nowhere, on some Brugmansia, Plumeria and Adenium. The spray eradicated the pests and they have never returned.

I would use it with caution on succulents. The chemical is designed to prevent transpiration, which could be problematic with some succulents.

x

Try real pure soap, nothing else included. LIQUID soap would be perfect. 1.5 tbs per gal of water. that will takes care of mealies and ants, top and in the soil. spray on weekly before watering the plants from the top. Good luck. I have used windex on scale it also kills meelies. I always water right after. I have use CONCERN Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer in the soil and on the benches in the pots, just a light dusting will be be enough. Be sure to follow directions on all boxed products. Norma

xerophyte_nyc,
I will look into that product; I wonder if it's protective coating would also help frost sensitive succulents like a. attenuta to ward off frost.

Norma,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I will take your advice and try some of your methods.
By the way, have you used Neem concentrate 70% (from green light) on cacti or other succulents? thx zac

I have used Neem at the Huntington Gardens, it is an approved product by the agrig. dept. We had white flies big time so I sprayed the top and bottom of the leave daily we also put up yellow paper that the flying insects stuck to. We need to write out report forms for every bit of pesticides that we use. By the way we have no mealies on the Hoya in the Tropical house, these greenhouses are very crowded to extreme. No mealies. We are changing this next year to all pumice in all of our plants. Norma

Norma...that's incredible news about no mealies on Hoyas...please, please, please tell us HOW you can prevent those awful insects on hoyas...I have over a hundred hoyas and am constantly battling the mealy bugs...it's a never-ending and very frustrating and time-consuming problem. I've used Bayer's Advance Tree and Shrub...but, the mealies return in about a month...I treated ALL 300+ of my plants two times, a month apart...and still I'm dealing with outbreaks. I WILL be eternally grateful for any advice you can give me. Thank you very much!!! Fondly, Patrick