---
title: "ripped off a dying leaf this morning from my bird of paradise and…"
description: "ripped off a dying leaf this morning from my bird of paradise and then started losing my mind. I noticed all these small spheres that looked like something I…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/6485f8a75579740269b6104b"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "mattty"
published: "2023-06-11T16:39:04.016Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/LbrccrJpL8yNNbDZ4hdQY59vtZoaxr-cSuJa-N4R8I4/18f078cf0e69435285192f008a0d1fe9.webp?size=large"
---

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# ripped off a dying leaf this morning from my bird of paradise and…

_Posted by mattty on 2023-06-11_

ripped off a dying leaf this morning from my bird of paradise and then started losing my mind. I noticed all these small spheres that looked like something I have never seen before and it was only in this one spot. i decided to try to remove everything i could from the soil and put it in sealed bag for trash. they were so small that I’m sure I must have missed some. any ideas what this was (scared) and how to prevent it? i usually try to keep my bop soil from drying out completely and the plant is otherwise healthy

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/LbrccrJpL8yNNbDZ4hdQY59vtZoaxr-cSuJa-N4R8I4/18f078cf0e69435285192f008a0d1fe9.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Deanna commented on 2023-06-11

Soil mealy bug babies!

#### mattty replied on 2023-06-11

\*screams\* lmao

#### anneliese replied on 2023-06-12

no! not mealy bugs! they’re a fungi, usually harmless unless you see a LOT of them in the soil. it’s usually also a sign of overwatering

### Deanna commented on 2023-06-11

Haha! Not too terrible. In my experience, I completely repot it after spraying roots with neem oil. Then I water with 1 tablespoon neem, 1 teaspoon Castile soap \& water mixture every 2-4 weeks. Gets rid of these buggers!

#### mattty replied on 2023-06-11

thank you for the advice!

### 9s commented on 2023-06-12

Looks like mycorrhizae to me. I wouldn’t worry too much. It’s a beneficial symbiotic fungus commonly found in houseplants.

#### anneliese replied on 2023-06-12

right? they literally sell soil that specifically has this! it’s beneficial to root development but when overwatered can start accumulating like this.

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