It does look like mealybugs. Take care of it asap, it will spread.

That container isn't very good for succulents - it is creating humid environment IMO. Does it have drainage hole?

Oh gosh, yes, that does look like mealy bugs.

Get a handle on that ASAP or as Rina says, it will spread to your other plants & the affected plant, may well succumb.

Rina- the container does not have a drainage hole, but I have been limiting the amount of water so it doesn't pool in the bottom and create issues

One would think that would mitigate a watering problem, but unfortunately, it doesn't.

You have a couple of things going on here, both will be helped by addressing the water thing.

Rx is a multiple pronged attack:

1. treat for mealy bugs

2. free-er draining medium

3. pot with a hole

Repeat step 1 as needed depending upon choice of mealy bug treatment

Agree on all counts, mealies need treating and a new pot...and drainage holes are a must! It's too enclosed and creating humidity which those plants will hate. How do you know the water isn't pooling?? You can't see what's going on at the bottom of it!

Gill

I'm not sure humidity is a problem. I live in a desert so the air is dry plus there's tons of sun. The soil is usually dry to the touch

Believe it or not, this comes up all the time =)

The container is a bit cupped and there is no drainage hole, add that with a peat-y soil as opposed to a gritty, rocky potting medium and that's a humid micro-climate.

Not steamy tropical jungle humid, but too humid for this plant, non the less.

Ask the google what causes mealybug infestation & you'll see we are not the only ones suggesting that your plant is more damp than it can tolerate. Mealies are opportunistic & will thrive when conditions are right.

One of which is moistness.

Desert or not, peaty soil *will* hold on to more water than a rocky mix.

Can we see a pic of the soil?

Is that Miracle-Gro?....

someone tag in please =D

Yes

We find straight MG is the cause of most if not all of the problems posted here concerning rotting/dying/dead cacti. At the very least it needs to be cut with 50% perlite...best still 30% each of perlite and grit of some kind ......and placed in a pot with drainage and not enclosed in any way.

Gill

Well, lots of people have success using regular potting mix such as Miracle-gro.

I am not one of them haha =)

Repeating their advice, if you purchase perlite and mix it 50/50 with the potting soil, it could work for you...provided you put the plant in a pot with a drainage hole, and treat for mealies.

All of my succulents and cacti have done excellent in this kind of MG. It seems to include more sand/rocks than the normal kind, and it feels a lot drier. I haven't had problems with any of my plants before

Limiting the amount of water is not answer to having no drainage. Why not to make it easy on yourself and better for plants by giving them better conditions? If you do so, the plants will grow better, will be stronger and resist bugs/diseases more, and you don't have to watch how much and how often to water them. Most succulents will prefer good soaking after their mix dries out rather than getting drips here and there. Even if the soil looks dry on surface, it may not be dry enough below. Sand is not a good ingredient unless it's quite grainy. Fine sand will compact, impairs any drainage and water usually pools on top of it. Yes, there are growers that use sand, but they are very experienced, have much better conditions than average hobbyist and do not grow all of the species in sand either.

I am sure you could grow any plant in just about anything; but giving it best one can will give you back much nicer, healthier plant.

I am not sure what is potted in same container, but researching different species for their watering and light needs would best, so one doesn't keep incompatible plants together.

That planter is really not suitable for succulents - it would look much nicer planted with some miniatures that like moist and more humid conditions. Air circulation is as important for succulents as good drainage.