--- title: "I’m so angry. There wasn’t a single spot on my leaves but I noticed…" description: "I’m so angry. There wasn’t a single spot on my leaves but I noticed she wasn’t growing and a leaf tip started turning brown. MEALY BUGS… IN MY ROOT SYSTEM!?!?…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/9Jf90QF64Na37NtPJFn07m" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "ThatTattedPlantLady" published: "2026-03-07T01:52:43.188063Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/q13PbFzdVuiaj8oVqi49icqhnrEfnuQfmByJMyJM268/asiG5HC_QrK4b52FH_i9PQ.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md) # I’m so angry. There wasn’t a single spot on my leaves but I noticed… _Posted by ThatTattedPlantLady on 2026-03-07_ I’m so angry. There wasn’t a single spot on my leaves but I noticed she wasn’t growing and a leaf tip started turning brown. MEALY BUGS… IN MY ROOT SYSTEM!?!? She’s but a humble cutting from a humble home AND YET THEY PESTER HER. the horror. The absolute terror. I’m so maddddd. ![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/q13PbFzdVuiaj8oVqi49icqhnrEfnuQfmByJMyJM268/asiG5HC_QrK4b52FH_i9PQ.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/q13PbFzdVuiaj8oVqi49icqhnrEfnuQfmByJMyJM268/83L1a5YhSP-W4Qbj0UF9Zw.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/q13PbFzdVuiaj8oVqi49icqhnrEfnuQfmByJMyJM268/dtST7HAfSaahcwHxndkx9Q.webp?size=large) ## 9 comments ### Belle commented on 2026-03-07 Oh crappy!! That’s my biggest fear is any type of pests not only cuz of what they do to our beautiful plants but also cuz I’m terrified of anything creepy crawly!!!!!!!! I hope there isn’t anymore in your other plants!!!!💚🌱💚 #### ThatTattedPlantLady replied on 2026-03-07 Me too 🙃 I wish I caught it sooner. So far 4 are infected. I never knew that ants in the pot were a red flag.🚩 Turns out Ants have a symbiotic relationship with mealy bugs. The ants protect them and the mealies allow the ants to eat their dew. May you never fall to the same affliction. 🙏 😔 #### Belle replied on 2026-03-07 Ants I learned come with a lot of pests cuz they like the honeydew left behind by pests provides for the ants, I know aphids also have a give and take relationship with ants, our ecosystem is wild!! I have these tiny bugs that were eating at the part where of my little cactus where the root meets the plant, the cactus showed no signs of distress and they aren’t in any of my other plants, they are like a neon green and super fast moving and even tho I quarantined the cactus after bathing him and giving him clean soil I still see them!! I was taking down my Valentine’s Day deco and saw a bunch on my nightstand and then the other night they were all over my nightstand again!! They move to freaking fast to get a pic and aren’t on/in my other plants but I gotta tell you they are making me crazy!! Any idea what they would be? They seem to like window sills and they hide very well, idk if they are a plant pest out what!?! Okay I’ve talked your ear off enough!! lol 😂 but I’m glad you know now that the ants are a red flag that’s good to know!! #### ThatTattedPlantLady replied on 2026-03-09 That sounds like aphids to me!! I haven’t had the displeasure of dealing with them yet. I hope you get all those lil suckers! #### Belle replied on 2026-03-10 I talked to my cousin who is really knowledgeable about plants, she’s been a plant person forever and she says nothing fast moving is bad that they were possibly springtails but I treated all my plants with Bonide and will continue to every two months!! My poor cactus is still in quarantine cuz like I said I don’t do bugs!! The weird thing is they were on my night stand the other night and there was a bunch but I don’t keep plants anywhere near my nightstand and they disappeared as far as they appeared!! So weird!! Idk 🤷‍♀️ but they are not in any of my other plants, and the cactus died no signs of distress and had no sticky stuff on it anywhere. Yeah like I said it’s very weird!! #### ThatTattedPlantLady replied on 2026-03-10 Very weird indeed! I hope your cactus recovers fast! Good luck!🍀 _1 more reply in the app_ ### AudPod commented on 2026-03-07 Bunch of jerks! #### Belle replied on 2026-03-07 RIGHT!!!???!!! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_