Hey all…plant friends I’m getting down about treating these mealy bugs! I was positive in the beginning that I could take care of it with no problem but it’s getting to me. It feels like a full time job. I’m down to 3 that I found mealys on from 10. I do my best to isolate but my living space makes it very challenging. I treated again with spot treatments of alcohol, systemic granules and neem oil. Just looking for some moral support I guess.
They can get frustrating. I have about 180 plants. Of those about 140 are succulents. They seem to be most attacked by the mealy bugs. It is a constant vigil of finding them. I rarely fine more than two or three on a plant and those are usually egg sacks. My regimen is systemic granules, and Systemica. Some plants don’t do well with the neem oil. Make sure you follow the directions for the Bonide granules. It takes about two weeks to start working. Every time I water, I spray the plant with Systemica, and for most of my succulents I spray between waterings because of the extended time between waterings. It takes a while to get them under control but sounds like you are doing great with that. I rarely find them on my tropicals. So I’m assuming that’s because of the Bonide. And keep in mind the Bonide won’t kill the egg sacks. That won’t happen till they become adults and start sucking the plants. I’m going to initiate a new deterrent in next couple of days-ventilation. I’m adding a fan running 24 hours a day. Research says it may help. I have had a couple severely infested plants. The bugs were well hidden that I didn’t realize there was a problem till the plant was looking bad. One was between Bonide treatments and the other was in semi hydro which I can’t treat. Keep up the treatments but don’t let your guard down. Also keep your plants in best of health. One more, I use a silica supplement which is also supposed to help with protecting the plants from pests. Might want to investigate that too.
0 likes Thank you, Phil! I so appreciate the advice and the support especially from someone so experienced with succulents as I mostly have succulents as well and despite it being almost a year I still have a lot to learn. I also haven’t had any of my tropicals show any signs of mealys thankfully. I will definitely pick up the Systemica and add that to my regimen as well as the silica supplement. I totally understand the hidden severe infestation. It happened with my gollum jade and I did my best to save it but I had to throw in the towel. I’ve come to understand sometimes you just have to let go and it’s a part of plant life trial and error. Thanks again!
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I have only ever had them on my cactus and jade plants. They took a while for spray downs, alcohol spritz and spot treatments. I also would shower mine in DE after they dried from a spray down. It does take several rounds of weekly treatments. Keep it up- i promise you are making progress it jist takes a while to see it
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What is “DE”?
1 like Ope, I accidently replyed to the main thread instead of you🤦♀️ see below
0 likes Diatomacious earth. I had a cluster of cactus that were hard to treat in the center. So i dusted the whole thing down for a couple weeks. It doesnt hurt thr plants but basically dehydrates the insects
2 likes Interesting. Thank you.
0 likes Oh thank you!
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