houseplant pests - Pampas2Palms

White Fluffy Stuff on Succulents: Identifying Mealybugs and Getting Rid of Them Without Ruining the Leaves

October 10, 2026 by Matthew L.

I found a wisp of white cotton tucked where the leaves meet the stem, and it looked harmless enough. Then I touched it, and the fluff moved.

If tiny black flies rise from your pots every time you water, it’s no coincidence: the top 5 cm of soil that never dries out is breeding what’s eating your roots

July 20, 2026 by Matthew L.

Those tiny black flies hovering around your watering can aren’t random—they’re fungus gnats, and their larvae are feasting on your plant roots in the perpetually damp top layer of soil. A single female lays 200 eggs in her week-long life, hatching a new generation every 17 days. The fix is surprisingly simple, but it requires rethinking how you water.