It wouldn't hurt your plant, but instead might prey on plant pests, like mealies...

Yes, breton2. I try to catch ladybugs on the shrubs and let them visit my plants - just in case there are some critters hiding out.

These aren't actual lady bugs, they are a bug from Asia, we have infestations of them and they bite, some people are very sensitive. In the spring they seem to come out of the woodwork.

Hi Loretta? How do you tell the difference?

It's hard to tell from the pic, but this guy is orange, not the usual red. Olof of ladybugs.

They are called Asian Lady Beetle.

Loretta - they do nip at you, don't they? I had a big Ixora hedge that was in bad shape (dying, really, after being soaked in salt water in a storm surge) and was infested with aphids and mealies - and these lady bugs/beetles. I was well bitten, but after I took out the hedge and eliminated the pests, the lady bugs moved on. I thought they would move to a neighboring hedge, but they didn't. I guess those were not infested.

I still see the occasional ladies, who I invite to visit my plants, but nothing like was on that hedge!

@brenton I think or assume after the viciousness of the biting bugs this season in central fl she just does not want to get bit anymore, grr they've been brutal! @Crenda could you tell me what size your beautiful Echeveria started and presently has grown too? I recently got a tiny one and look forward to watching it flourish, also Mr Armstrong agreed on aphid/mealies on my outside crew and suggested same treatment you did, thank you (: pic is cropped, he is a teeny fella one more question, assuming you use a gritty mix, where do you get or order yours? I am so in love with my silly plants I want to give them the best within reason habitats I can...if you knew me you'd really laugh at my new hobby/addiction ;)

Mary

If I may suggest - next time re-potting, don't let plant sitting so deep in the pot. The leaves would be better off if they didn't have to get 'squished' against inside of the rim; and also sitting that much inside could interfere with air flow just a little. It's not a big problem, but every little helps, and it looks better too.

I can't tell what kind of soil it is potted in, but if the bottom leaves of succulent are touching it and it stays wet for a while, they get some damage (may not be rot, but still a damage). That happens quite often with plants in the stores - they are usually potted in peat, and most often over-watered. I bought some of these too and this is how they looked:

Plants were re-potted right away; I use mix of gravel, perlite and turface and also top-dressing of gravel. You don't have to use top-dressing; I personally like to do that and it keeps surface dryer. Weight of it also helps to anchor newly potted plants. This is JMO and there are few that believe it interferes with drainage - I don't see it that way, it is gravel, and it is larger size than size used in the mix.

I have 3 plants bought same day; 1 was quite damaged but they have grown little more than I expected, since they are supposed to be slow growers. It has grown 3 rows (maybe 4?) of new leaves since April. Not sure if you have ID on it, it is Echeveria purpusorum.

Loretta, I hope you don't mind I side-tracked this post somehow...Thnx.

Rina

Hard to be sure by looking at only the backside of the shell but that one looks like a people friendly lady bug to me. They have different shades of color. Or, at least, the lady bugs at my location do. Anyway, it probably is better off outside.

@Rita I really appreciate you helping my babies and sharing your wisdom/experience (: I got this one last week and it was basically sitting on top of the soil in this little pot, it actually got blown out once fairly easily. I had also just discovered my outside babies had a possible pest, so I kept the newbies as is in a Tupperware till last night when I brought them to the home were moving into. I didn't want to take any chances..so now I have a few (dozenish, or too many) that need a complete new habitat. Hopefully they can survive until after Christmas and I will be able to give them better housing ;) again Rita you're the best and thank you!!!