Image – Wikimedia/David J. Stang
Aloe vera or aloe vera is one of the most cultivated succulent plants, not only for its medicinal properties, but also because it is one of those that requires the least care. However, sometimes there can be problems, and one of them is when we see that there are white things on its pages.
The first thing to do is find out what is wrong and then treat it if necessary. So let’s go. Let’s find out why aloe vera has white stuff.
These are your natural spots
Although Aloe Vera tends to have white spots, especially when young, this is something many people are unaware of.. Therefore, before worrying, you must first know if these white things that your plant has come from it, that is, if they are natural spots.
It’s easy to know: just feel the blade. If you notice it smooth, that is, if you don’t feel a little “ball”, it’s hers. You can do another test: scratch with your fingernail, gently (without squeezing), to see if it is easy for you to remove it or not.
But why are there specimens that have white spots and others that don’t? Well, that depends on each person’s genetics. Usually for the first year they have them, but then they lose them.. But I insist: there may be aloe vera that they never had.
So if you thought there were different types of aloe vera, let me tell you no. There is only one. Yes, there are other aloe species that look like A. vera, but nothing more: they are not genetically identical, so they are different aloe species.
has mealybugs
Image – Flickr/Katja Schulz
Why does my aloe vera have white stuff? Good, you may have mealybugs, probably cottony or ribbed, or more rarely looking like a limpet: the San José louse. It is a very common pest in both cacti and succulents, which appears especially during the summer, but can also do so in any other season of the year if the temperatures are mild. .
It is easy to identify them because they look like cottonand when you pick them up, they break very easily. The San José Lice goes more unnoticedsince from afar it looks like a normal, harmless brown spot, but if you approach and scratch it with your fingernail, you see that it quickly comes off. For this reason, the use of gardening gloves is recommended, since in this way we avoid staining our hands.
You will see that they are placed mainly at the base of the leaves, where they can hide and, thus, feed without being disturbed by anyone. So they can absorb their sap. And then they secrete a honeydew that tends to attract ants. Now, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen ants hanging around my aloe, but like in other cultures, that’s exactly what happens, it’s worth saying.
So how is this scourge treated? For that, what you can do is clean the sheets with water and dish soap. We will pour 2 ml of this product into a liter of water and mix well. Then it is enough to apply it to the plant, for example with a small brush or, better, a cloth in case it has the San José louse because it is easier to eliminate it this way.
Another way is to treat it with diatomaceous earth. It is a natural product, since it is fossilized seaweed remains. It is quite reminiscent of flour, and like it, it leaves no residue. But it is also very light, so in order for it to work longer, you must first wet the plant with water, and then pour diatomaceous earth over it.
Likewise, I also recommend applying it to the substrate, as it serves as a fertilizer, which can help the plant recover before the attack of this pest.
These are traces of lime
The aloe vera It is a succulent that can be watered with hard water, with a pH of 7. The problem is when this pH is higher: the leaves can end up with traces of limestone, as well as the substrate. Even in the pot, indoors, we will see that they accumulate. And of course this is a problem, because in the end, since there are so many of them, the pores of the leaves get clogged and, as a result, they stop breathing and die.
To avoid it, try watering with rainwateror with a pH between 6 and 7. If it is higher, it will have to be reduced with a few drops of lemon or vinegar.
Related article:
How to remove lime from water for watering plants
As you have seen, Aloe Vera can have white stuff and not be a problem, but even when it is, it can be fixed by taking a few very simple steps. We hope your aloe is recovering.