What are these tiny white spots on my rainbow hedgehog ca...
What are these tiny white spots on my rainbow hedgehog cactus? This is my first cactus. Maybe I’ve been overwatering it.
I’m worried it’s mold. We realized that there was no air circulation in the dining room after it was expanded, so I’ve been using a fan on them for the past couple months. I resolved the mold problem on regular-type soil for my other plants. This one never had mold and has cactus soil.
There’s more spots of this white than there were a few months ago. There’s at least one pretty low on the plant, so I don’t think it’s flowering
Side question: will those spots where there used to be flowers heal? Also it’s growing really misshapen… any advice? #Cactus #CactusClique This cactus had a sticker for Greg and got me on here.
I’m worried it’s mold. We realized that there was no air circulation in the dining room after it was expanded, so I’ve been using a fan on them for the past couple months. I resolved the mold problem on regular-type soil for my other plants. This one never had mold and has cactus soil.
There’s more spots of this white than there were a few months ago. There’s at least one pretty low on the plant, so I don’t think it’s flowering
Side question: will those spots where there used to be flowers heal? Also it’s growing really misshapen… any advice? #Cactus #CactusClique This cactus had a sticker for Greg and got me on here.
3” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 week ago
4
Hi! Unfortunately I think your cactus has mealy bugs. Also, you may know this already, but the color is artificial. It was either dyed or painted.
Here are steps for treating mealy bugs:
1. Isolate the plant immediately to avoid spread to other houseplants.
2. Wipe down leaves with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove surface pests and residue.
3. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil:
• Spray all leaf surfaces (top and bottom), stems, and the soil line.
• Repeat every 5–7 days until pests are gone.
4. For bad infestations: consider rubbing alcohol (diluted to 70%) with a Q-tip on visible pests.
5. Check nearby plants — pests may have already spread.
Here are steps for treating mealy bugs:
1. Isolate the plant immediately to avoid spread to other houseplants.
2. Wipe down leaves with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove surface pests and residue.
3. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil:
• Spray all leaf surfaces (top and bottom), stems, and the soil line.
• Repeat every 5–7 days until pests are gone.
4. For bad infestations: consider rubbing alcohol (diluted to 70%) with a Q-tip on visible pests.
5. Check nearby plants — pests may have already spread.
It was mealy bugs. I found a dead bug on it under a magnifying glass. I killed off whatever was there, put it outside, and I'll treat it again every 3 days until the life cycle of any eggs/bugs is over. Then I'll use neem oil. I haven't found any evidence of bugs on my other indoor plants. The cactus is on a brick windowsill by itself, but I'll probably put it in a hanging planter thing that my cousin gave us