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Pork and Beans · Sedum rubrotinctum

What are these white spots on my Pork and Beans?

Mealybugs love to hide in the tight spaces between the jelly bean leaves. They look like tiny bits of white cotton and can quickly weaken your plant.

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pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Look closely at the crevices between the leaves.
  2. Check the undersides of the stems for white fuzz.
  3. Inspect nearby plants for the same white spots.

Likely causes

  1. Mealybug infestation

    Most likely

    How to tell: You see small white, fuzzy patches in the leaf crevices. The plant may look stunted or lose leaves unexpectedly.

    What to do: Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and touch it directly to the white spots to kill the bugs. Repeat this every few days until you see no more pests.

  2. Poor air circulation

    Possible

    How to tell: The plant is crowded by other plants or kept in a very stagnant corner. This environment invites pests to settle in.

    What to do: Move your plant to a spot with better airflow. Keep it away from other infested plants to stop the bugs from spreading.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your pork and beans

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.

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When to worry

If the infestation covers the whole plant, it is very hard to treat. It is better to take healthy cuttings and start over.

Stopping it coming back

Check your plant regularly when you water it. Keeping it in bright, moving air makes it less attractive to pests.

Pork and Beans: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pork and beans 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.

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Questions people ask

Can I use soap to kill them?
You can use a mild insecticidal soap, but rubbing alcohol is much more effective for spot treating mealybugs on succulents.
Will they spread to my other plants?
Yes, mealybugs move easily from plant to plant. Isolate your affected Pork and Beans immediately.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Pork and Beans

Back to the Pork and Beans 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.