--- title: "How do I get rid of a bad infestation of Mealy bugs on a couple…" description: "How do I get rid of a bad infestation of Mealy bugs on a couple plants?" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/maCcZh9qEeTAqvEga8KYeS?language=nb" community: "Anything about plants" author: "Christine" published: "2025-08-07T19:10:42.947503Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/everythingHousePlants.jpg" --- [Fellesskap](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=nb) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md?language=nb) # How do I get rid of a bad infestation of Mealy bugs on a couple… _Lagt ut av Christine den 2025-08-07_ How do I get rid of a bad infestation of Mealy bugs on a couple plants? ## 11 kommentarer ### Gaileen Joy kommenterte den 2025-08-07 Mealy bugs? ### Yolanda kommenterte den 2025-08-07 70%rubbing alcohol with cotton balls front and back of every leaf, the tight areas use a qtip. I would spray the plant off with nozzle really good first then use the alcohol. To be even safe I would repot in fresh soil if your infestation is bad. Spray the heck out of the plant with neem oil then ISOLATE this plant for a while until the issue is solved. Spray plant every 7 days after this. I would keep my plants sprayed as a preventative every 7 to 14 days.. good luck ### Phil kommenterte den 2025-08-08 The follow up, as Yolanda suggested, is extremely important. My definition of a bad mealy bug infestation is finding maybe 10 on a plant. That is rare for me. Usually one or two now and then. As a preventative, use Bonide systemic every two months. I’m doing mine now. That’s probably why I have so few. I don’t spray the plant with neem. And wow does that stuff stink! I use insecticidal soap instead. I damaged some very good plants with neem. And before anyone says, I didn’t place them in light until dry. Mealy bugs are easy to get rid of. But it takes persistence. #### Christine svarte den 2025-08-08 What is an ‘insecticidal soap’ and ‘Bonide systemic?’ Im new to plants and am really trying to learn all I can. Do you have a picture of what they are? #### Phil svarte den 2025-08-08 I get both from Amazon. I also add silica to the fertilizer. I’ll add pics when I get a chance. #### Phil svarte den 2025-08-08 Here you go. Silica is especially good for highly variegated plants. Helps the white leaves last longer. It supposedly supports the plant by making it stronger and fight off pests. The systemic is available in a larger size and much much cheaper than this small size. But the odd thing is that it says for “outdoor plants” even though the formula is exactly the same. I have a lot of plants so I buy the larger size. ![Vedlegg 1 av 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/sXkTACI4Rx-56_RfP1z88w.webp?size=large) ![Vedlegg 2 av 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/SjQ_p7tMTNCAE04a8WYF1w.webp?size=large) ![Vedlegg 3 av 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/-AAx3p55SJe7n5oniuoLBw.webp?size=large) #### Yolanda svarte den 2025-08-08 I haven’t tried the insecticidal soap. Do you spray and leave on your foliage? Neem does stink but I have just gotten use to it now. When I don’t want to tolerate the smell I just use my systemic granules ### Yolanda kommenterte den 2025-08-08 Yes I also put the systemic granules in my plants soil and spray all of my plants with the neem oil as well. You could never use too much to keep the pest away. The key is consistency 🙂 ### Bonzoid kommenterte den 2025-08-08 They’re alcoholics!!! Rubbing alcohol that is. #### Holly svarte den 2025-08-08 I hate that i laughed at this ### Nan kommenterte den 2025-08-10 This was mine, when I took it out of the pot, I noticed the soil was covered. I had no way of getting rid of it and threw out the plant. I was very worried about the other plants it was next to, so I had to isolate them away from each other for 1-2 months. Be careful when using rubbing alcohol- recently I had to do this treatment on my money tree and I did not rinse my leafs well enough and my plant is currently having a hard time bouncing back. ![Vedlegg 1 av 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ywoyxjGPQt3H70Xk99Po9QWZiq6tQ3uO6PORZ0v7LMk/a6P28ilnTF6sum3G-ZMvgA.webp?size=large) --- _Planta-fellesskapet (https://getplanta.com). Lesing er åpen for alle. For å poste, kommentere og like, skaff deg Planta-appen: https://getplanta.com/download_