Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Look closely at the crevices where leaves meet the stem.
- Check the undersides of the leaves for tiny webs.
- Wipe a leaf with a white tissue to see if any bugs come off.
Likely causes
Mealybugs
Most likelyHow to tell: You see white, fuzzy, cottony masses in the leaf axils or along the stem.
What to do: Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and touch it directly to the bugs to kill them on contact. Repeat this every few days until you no longer see any signs of them.
Spider Mites
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves look dusty or stippled with tiny yellow dots, and you might see fine webbing between the leaves.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the webbing and mites. Increase humidity slightly or use a gentle insecticidal soap spray.
Find out what's wrong with your mother of thousands
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the infestation covers the entire plant and the leaves start falling off, it is a serious situation. A few bugs are easy to manage if you act right away.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant clean by wiping the leaves occasionally. Inspect new plants carefully before placing them near your other succulents.
Mother of Thousands: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your mother of thousands and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Will these bugs spread to my other plants?
- Yes, they can move easily between plants. Isolate your Mexican Hat Plant until you are sure the pests are gone.
- Can I use dish soap to kill them?
- A very mild solution of water and a drop of dish soap can work, but rubbing alcohol is much more effective for mealybugs.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Mother of Thousands
- Why is my Mexican Hat Plant getting mushy?
- Why is my Mexican Hat Plant growing so tall and thin?
- Why are my Mother of Thousands leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Mother of Thousands dropping its leaves?
- Why are the tips of my Mother of Thousands leaves turning brown?
- Why is my Mother of Thousands drooping?
- Why are there spots on my Mother of Thousands?
- Why are my Mother of Thousands leaves curling?
Back to the Mother of Thousands guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.