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Gentle readers: I have discovered a mealy bug on my Florida Ghost.… | Pests, diseases and problems | Communauté Planta

JavaMama

Gentle readers: I have discovered a mealy bug on my Florida Ghost. Then discovered small white areas that are suspect on a Ficus Tinneke which is rather large in the same room, and upstairs on a seven foot tall Ficus Audrey and my Burle Marx philodendron. I wouldn’t call it an infestation because I keep an eye on them and it’s early stages but let’s just say the little jerks are trying to take up housekeeping. I sprayed the Tinneke yesterday and they still moved in only on a new leaf that showed up overnight. I guess that one was fresh and didn’t taste bad? It’s just enough to say hi we’re here and trying to invade and no visible damage. I sprayed insecticidal soap on the affected plants and quarantined them and the large ones I have no choice other than Bonide systemic. Please share cheerful stories of how you beat pests. Believe it or not I’ve never had this issue.

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  1. Nikiller

    I just had them on my outdoor hibiscus. Super easy to kill and it only took us 2 sprays to eradicate them as we caught them early and treated appropriately. My spray I use is a mix of 98% water and the rest of the 2% is isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, and antibacterial/antifungal/insecticidal natural oils like clove, neem, and peppermint. I sprayed in the heat of the day with the sun blazing in Florida and had no damages to the plant as we rinse it off after 5-12 minutes, then did a second application 2 days later. The secret is to get every mealy bug wet with the spray and allow it to soak on them. Being in an apartment complex the pests we get tend to come once, don’t like the way we treat them, and then establish their population 3 buildings down on this guys unkept plants.

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  2. JavaMama

    This is encouraging. Thank goodness they’re white and easy to spot. I should have quarantined the Florida Ghost when I bought it. I was too excited to get it. It’s happily putting up new leaves and I went to check one out and there it was. Ugh!

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  3. Phil

    Hmmm…..this is difficult because I deal with mealy bugs frequently and I don’t think they are easy to eradicate. I have many succulents and mealys seem to consider them a delicacy. I just finished treating six plants that were in quarantine for 3 weeks. They were all treated with insecticidal soap every three days. From experience, you treat them a couple times, don’t see any, and assume they have been eradicated. Couple weeks later you see one or two more. I use Bonide Systemic as a preventative. It works for about two months. I then give it a break for about two months. I read somewhere that this was the best procedure. Don’t know if it’s correct or not. I will be starting the Bonide treatment very soon. I have over 180 plants to treat. So it takes weeks to get them done. So I’m letting you know that you need to treat for at least a couple weeks. I’ve only had them on a few tropicals. Currently I have a Birkin in quarantine. I’ve been seeing strange growth with it but couldn’t find any pests. It’s been a couple months. Finally got out a flashlight and pulled stems and leaves apart, best I could without damage, and found the damn mealys way down in the center on the plant, completely hidden. So I spray the center best I can hoping the spray is reaching them. Can’t use Bonide because it’s semi hydro. So be diligent and keep treating even if you think they are gone.

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    • JavaMama

      That’s my next move today post initial spray is to look with my iPhone flashlight. They are quite determined, fortunately the Tinneke continues to put out new healthy leaves.

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  4. My Leafy Life

    I've had gnats, powder mildew, and spider mites. I treated them all with Neem oil successfully. The powdery mildew required spraying the plant weekly for four weeks.

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