Pocket Botanist
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Check these first
- Inspect the crevices between the leaves with a magnifying glass.
- Check for sticky honeydew on the leaves or the surface below the pot.
- Look for tiny white webs or cottony patches.
Likely causes
Mealybugs
PossibleHow to tell: Look for small white cottony masses tucked into the crevices where leaves meet the stem. They suck sap and leave behind a sticky residue.
What to do: Dab the bugs with a cotton swab dipped in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. For larger infestations, spray the entire plant with insecticidal soap every 5 to 7 days until they are gone.
Aphids
PossibleHow to tell: You will see tiny green or black insects clustering on the new growth tips. They cause the leaves to look distorted or stunted.
What to do: Gently wash the plant with a soft stream of water to knock them off. If they persist, apply neem oil once a week for 3 weeks to control the population.
Find out what's wrong with your stringy stonecrop
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
Small numbers are easy to manage, but you should worry if the plant starts losing leaves rapidly or looks wilted despite proper watering. A few bugs are normal if you have recently brought the plant inside from outdoors.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant in a spot with good air circulation and avoid overwatering, as damp conditions can attract pests. Regularly wipe down the leaves to keep them clean and dust free.
Stringy stonecrop: pests? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your stringy stonecrop 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
- Can I use dish soap to kill the bugs?
- You can use a very mild solution of water and a few drops of plain dish soap, but be careful. Rinse the plant thoroughly afterward to ensure no soap residue stays on the leaves.
- Will these bugs spread to my other plants?
- Yes, pests like mealybugs and aphids move easily between plants. Isolate your Sedum immediately until you are sure the infestation is cleared.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Stringy stonecrop
Back to the Stringy stonecrop 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.