White Spots on Succulent

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I found these white spots on one of my succulents. What are they? I tried to wipe them off, a few wiped off on my finger but others didn't. They feel like nothing.

other two plants from same shop don't have em. Upper leaves have less/none.

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Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Sans, what?! You mean paint can't make babies and spread all over the Op's plant? I'm just throwin out possibilities:).

Could be scale. I've been fortunate enough to never have it, but I know they come in all shapes and sizes. With scale I would think it would feel like something when you rubbed your finger over them. You say they feel like nothing. My other guess would be mineral buildup.

If this was mine I would take it out of the pot and inspect it. Roots and all. I would get some rubbing alcohol and wipe down every leaf with a paper towel or q-tip. Clean the pot real good, and put in new soil. Throw out old mix it was in. To me it doesn't look like a pest, but I'm not there I can't feel it or really inspect it. It's hard to tell in the pic:). Keep this plant away from other plants:).

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Comments (16)

succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
They have spread further up the succulent today...
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
9 years ago
I'm not 100% sure what this is. Let's see:). Can you wipe the dots off easily? Is it like chalk?
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succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
@Kara some will wipe off, others will not. I haven't tried baring down very hard, but a few will come off it you just wipe gently with a finger. They stay in dot form.. This succulent does have white powder on it, but the leaves with dots don't have it.
succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
@Kara some will wipe off, others will not. I haven't tried baring down very hard, but a few will come off it you just wipe gently with a finger. They stay in dot form.. This succulent does have white powder on it, but the leaves with dots don't have it.
succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
@Kara some will wipe off, others will not. I haven't tried baring down very hard, but a few will come off it you just wipe gently with a finger. They stay in dot form.. This succulent does have white powder on it, but the leaves with dots don't have it.
Sans2014
9 years ago
some sort of insect pest?
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
9 years ago
It almost looks like paint.
Sans2014
9 years ago
paint doesn't spread up as was mentioned above. hard to say what the dots are as I can't zoom in.
greenclaws UK, Zone 8a
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If you take one off and actually squash it on some paper what happens? Blood would defo indicate a life form of some kind...now dead. Goo or similar contents could still be a former live thing, not all life forms have red blood remember, powder or no squashability I have no idea but wouldn't be cause for concern I would think.
Andrew (UK south coast, like 9a)
9 years ago
Are you sure they are spreading, or could it be that as you are rubbing the powder off the leaves you are just exposing more that were there but hidden? The plant looks like to me it may have been splashed with something.
succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
They feel like nothing.. Im not rubbing powder off leaves, the ones with the dots don't have powder... They're too thin to squash, you just can't squish them. Kara, I may do that soon. Not at the moment, but maybe if we can't get it figured out.
should I take rubbing alcohol/nail polish remover and try to rub them off?
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
9 years ago
Acetone? On plants? May I ask who recommended using acetone please?
Andrew (UK south coast, like 9a)
9 years ago
Whatever these spots are, if they are not causing any harm to the plant, which they don't appear to be, you are probably best to leave it be in my opinion.
Kara 9b SF Bay Area CA
9 years ago
Rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol is what you should use. Never ever nail polish remover.
succulentss
Original Author
9 years ago
My friend told me I should use nail polish remover.. Sounded odd, but for some reason I believed her. Thanks for clarifying not to! Ever since this little plant has gotten somewhat better light, the spots are going away. Hasn't been harming the plant and powder is returning, hooray!