Aphids! Blast them with water to remove them.

~Rosemarie

Thanks, Rosemarie. I live in an apartment, so I can't use a hose for it, do they "unstick" easily or do I need a lot of water pressure.

Also, in another bulletin board they said "scales" and now I'm confused, is there any difference in treatment?
Thank you again!

Those are aphids and Rosemarie's advice is good. I would invest in a one quart pump up spray bottle. That way you can carry the plant outdoors and wash them off there. It doesn't take a lot of pressure.

randy

I have refilled an old spray bottle with water and I'm trying but it is very hard because not all come out and pressing the handle once and again for 10 minutes have left my arm dead...

I'm going to try in the shower. I also have an insect killer against -among others- aphids. Should I use it after the "shower".
Thank you again, you are great help!

That's why I recommended a 1 quart "pump up" spray bottle :-).

If you are wanting to add something to the water, I would just use a drop or two of liquid dish-washing detergent. After it's been on the plant for 20 minutes or so, then give it a shower. I'm not real big on bathing with aphids myself though.

randy

Hello,

I just put the plant in the shower and sprayed it there with the hand shower. But I still see some (lots of foliage prevent the water from reaching everywhere around the buds and I'm afraid to use more pressure and damage the buds). BTW, will the buds survive this?
What do I do with the remaining bugs? The insect killer I have is of the brand Safer, but I'm not sure that makes it any safer in the buds? In my on-line research I've also read to use diluted dish soap or even alcohol...
Thank you!

Hey lameri, if you have pet tropical fish, they love 'em. We used to have pet fish, I used to knock them off into a jar and give them to the fish.
Alternatively, if a jet of water is is not the answer, try a houseplant insecticide aerosol. Downunder, we use a Mortein brand called "House and Garden"... but there is a number of others. Don't use ordinary insect spray as this will likely kill your plant. The Aphids love any new growth and flower buds, you often get the green aphids on rose buds.

CP

Lameri,

Safer will work just fine and won't damage your plant. I use it combined with more potent stuff constantly on all of the crassula genera without any damage to the plants. Go for it. Get rid of the little beasties before they do real damage to the bloom.

I'll bet that you've had ants around this plant as well. They farm the aphids for their sweet excretions. Kill the ants, or you will never get rid of the aphids.

Buck

Thanks, Buck. It's very good to know that Safer insect killer won't damage the buds, since I didn't seem to be able to get them all out with the water and I did see how I was starting to damage the buds with the pressure. I hope the spray can reach everywhere and kill them all. How will I distinguish the dead aphids from the ones still alive? So that I can make sure they are all dead...

The dead ones will look a lot like they do now, just won't squish, just fall off when touched. Use a small soft bristled brush and sweep them off.