The Easter cactus , like the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti , is native to Brazil . The plant has flat , green stems . The base look like leaves and are called section . The stems produce flowers , which bud between the segments . blossom can be many dissimilar colors , include purpleness , but the most popular are flushed and pink . The Easter cactus has bristles on the edge of the segment and at the tip of the final segment , but the Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti do not .
Scales
Scales are lowly insect that assault decorative plants . The scale damage the Easter cactus by sucking the fluid from the plant ’s leaves and stems . If the infestation is bad , the scales might also suck fluid from the roots of the flora . If the plague is heavy , the plant life ’s leaves bend scandalmongering , it will have premature leaf driblet , parts of the cactus dies back and eventually , the cactus expire .
Scale egg hatch in one to three weeks , calculate on the eccentric of scale . The babies ( nymph ) find a alimentation site on the cactus to flow and develop . Once males molt , they are tiny and winged , and they make their way from the host cactus to other plant , go around the infection . Scales can be insure with pesticide .
Mealy Bugs
The female mealy bug grows up to 3 mm long , and the males are belittled , about the size of a gnat . The eggs are covered by impenetrable , downlike wax . A mealybug in general lays 200 to 600 eggs per sac . They prefer cactus in warm , dry weather , or in a warm household . The mealybug inserts its thread - alike mouth parts into the plant to lactate the sap out of the industrial plant . They also secrete honeydew , which causes the plant to release black . you’re able to usually find mealy bug near the base of the prow of plant , including the Easter cactus .
Because the mealybug ’s ovisac is covered in wax , it is difficult to get pesticide into the testis sac . This micturate it difficult to assure mealybugs . discourse with pesticides will most in all probability have to be repeated at least two more times to get disembarrass of the pestilence . If you notice mealybugs before a full - blown plague occurs , remove them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol .
Overwatering
The Easter cactus does not need a passel of water . Overwatering the plant kill it . Water the industrial plant , then wait until the dirt is dry before irrigate again .
vacation cacti can be overrun by scale or mealy bugs , but these insects rarely get major problems . Wiping the parting with alcoholic beverage can keep pests in check . Use a systemic insect powder for a serious plague .
