Jade Plants and Mealybugs So I have several jade plants in my home and they all seem to periodically struggle with mealybug infestations. I keep following the same protocol- removal with cotton swabs, spraying with Neem oil, sprinkling with diatomaceous earth, and isolation. I’ve even added systemic granules to the soil. But it seems like no matter what I do, they come back. I’m sort of tired of seeing my plants covered in diatomaceous earth, which is just unattractive. How do I get rid of these for once and for all? The newest victim is my Ripple Jade (just noticed the beginnings of an infestation this morning). Is there something better I can do maintenance wise to keep reinfestation from happening? (Bugs aren’t really visible in pictures. The white you see is diatomaceous earth.)