---
title: "Hi can anyone help identify what this clear and white crusty residue…"
description: "Hi can anyone help identify what this clear and white crusty residue is on my Swiss cheese plant? I found armored scales on a nearby plant so I am suspicious…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/3uAG8BwBcee9ny9DXJw4JA"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Cheryl"
published: "2026-07-06T20:46:55.964911Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/mgCptT6ggNPbar4sa_9CASbu-25Qd-76hEumpy3P4Io/INREM5FUTKu-a9p04lDPUA.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Hi can anyone help identify what this clear and white crusty residue…

_Posted by Cheryl on 2026-07-06_

Hi can anyone help identify what this clear and white crusty residue is on my Swiss cheese plant?

I found armored scales on a nearby plant so I am suspicious that they may have caused this but I cannot find a single scale on this plant so I am confused. It is most concentrated on new growth.

I use filtered/chlorine free water and this doesn’t look like guttation or mold.

Any advice is appreciated!

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/mgCptT6ggNPbar4sa_9CASbu-25Qd-76hEumpy3P4Io/INREM5FUTKu-a9p04lDPUA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/mgCptT6ggNPbar4sa_9CASbu-25Qd-76hEumpy3P4Io/qjbg_6zZTM--3aSN66UvEQ.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/mgCptT6ggNPbar4sa_9CASbu-25Qd-76hEumpy3P4Io/Y0CWtFuXRKC9S98cL1Ac5Q.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Nichole commented on 2026-07-06

Mealy bugs

#### Cheryl replied on 2026-07-06

Thanks! Do you know if they can hide super well? I’ve checked every inch of this plant and can’t find a single pest or anything resembling a mealy bug or scale

#### Kate replied on 2026-07-07

I dealt with a terribly mealy bug infestation a few months ago, I found that a lot of them will hide in the white powdery residue (see pic). I cleaned literally every leaf and crevice with q-tips and cotton rounds soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol even if there was nothing visible, and then completely repotted. I kept cleaning with that alcohol whenever I spotted more bugs and it’s all taken care of!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/xUmg1EZxpgKZbRkI2rfU3a0qUiTa6jcpjnTBKXzH6Es/gA2qipZZRxuRHiVrRzqV-A.webp?size=large)

#### Cheryl replied on 2026-07-07

Thank you so much for the advice! I’ll try that

### Kaye commented on 2026-07-09

We have the same problem!

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