# What's this white stuff on my kumquat plant? Is my plant harmed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653 "2017-01-31T10:34:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teddybound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/1 "2017-01-31T10:34:57Z")
Found some white silky stuff on the bark and shoots of my kumquat plant. Anyone can help with the identification? How do i get rid of it? Or if it is harmless, i will leave it there. Here is the picture: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/tA0qoiE.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/tA0qoiE) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/2 "2017-01-31T10:58:16Z")
Most likely wooly aphids - here’s how to control them: > **[Woolly Aphid Control: How To Get Rid Of Woolly Aphids](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/woolly-aphid-control.htm)** > > Although woolly aphid populations rarely get large enough to harm most plants, the distorted and curled leaves they cause and leave behind can certainly become unsightly. Find out how to control them here. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/3 "2017-01-31T12:41:52Z")
Kumquat? White stuff? The jokes, they write themselves. ---
**Author:** ![teddybound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/4 "2017-01-31T13:49:22Z")
I just checked on the plant. Its all over the budding shoots and some parts of the leaves. Tbh, i’m worried. I used water to wash some of it but theres so much. Is it toxic to handle? ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/5 "2017-01-31T17:08:11Z")
Mealybugs? Cottony Cushion scale? Your down comforter sprung a leak? 😃 If it’s either of the first two, wash it down with an insecticidal soap, rinse off after 15 minutes. If the affected area is small enough, a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and dabbed on the offenders will take care of it. If it’s the third, take a needle and thread and… ---
**Author:** ![Percolator\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@Percolator\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Percolator_Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/6 "2017-01-31T19:28:54Z")
> [@teddybound](#): > > Found some white silky stuff on the bark and shoots of my kumquat plant. [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://imgur.com/tA0qoiE) A ghost with a plant fetish is jerking off in your house. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-white-stuff-on-my-kumquat-plant-is-my-plant-harmed/778653/7 "2017-01-31T20:09:42Z")
Do you have a lot of ants around your yard , they farms aphids for milk and will use plants to raise their aphids . This happen to my veggies plants and it was a pain in the ass trying to kill the aphids when there were so many ants around my condo. I gave up trying to grow veggies on my deck.