Oh oh I am in trouble - one of my babies has mealy bugs

Hello,

Well I am putzing around again as I usually do and noticed that this particular AV was not doing so well...thought I would repot it and spotted them at the base of the plant.

I have trimmed all the roots back drastically and sprayed Schultz Household & Gardens Spray (Pyrethrins based) on the base of them and then just left them to soak.

I also sprayed with Neem oil.

I also sprayed with a concoction of black tea and alcohol too.

I am afraid to pot them up though in case it hasn't gotten rid of them. I don't want to lose this plant because it was given to me by a lady that has cancer and I would never forgive myself if anything happened to it.

It is a pretty pink ruffled flower with green trim and girly foilage.

I will send a pic along.

Any help or advice would be so much appreciated.

Joanne

Joanne how long have you had the plant ? Has it been around your other plant. Same tools used. Do you work on it then work on other plants ? If so treat all your plants.
Have you had new plants in your home ?
Don't spray it with anything else I think you Sprayed it enough. Throw the pot away trash bagged out side and anything the plant has been near trash or hot water bleach soak.
I also bleach soak even new pots.
I'd lay several paper towels down on tray, saucer something clean let the plant lie on it. Place any where in isolation even bathroom counter. Spray again in 7 days and again in another 7 days.
Examine tomorrow. Take any ruined foliage off trash bag gone, check soil check everything. Re-pot in new bleached pot new wick. new soil and keep isolated a good 3-6 months.
Everything you use that comes in contact with scissors everything bleac. Wash your habds and nails real good after handling plant.
It should be fine !
good Luck , Allison

yup, no more spraying. I recommend checking carefully every two days and swabbing any mealies off individually - use a Q tip dipped in alcohol. Make sure the plant isn't staying too wet, and I would put it in a pot.

Take a leaf and propagate!

Also, consider getting some of Bayer Advanced's pesticide - look for the ingredient imidacloprid. Label is usually rose and Flower spray or Tree and Shrub insect control. Dilute to far less than for trees (sorry no scientific measurements!) and water the plant with it. (They have a spray version but I haven't tried it on AVs.)

This message was edited Mar 12, 2006 4:15 PM

Mealy bugs respond (die) very well to vinegar. Just saturated a Q-tip and brush them off. Do it daily until no more are seen. Then keep an eye on the plant. Keep it away from the rest of the plants until you see no more.

mealie bugs are wimps. they pretty much will die from anything. So, it's mostly about patience and vigilance. They will come back if you stop treatment too soon. And definitely do all the stuff Alli mentions about cleaning pots and surfaces etc. Want to get rid of any eggs that might be around.

vigilance is the key. they are easy to wipe out. Neem oil works as it smothers them and doesn't hurt the plants.

but their eggs and babies need to be watched for after you remove the adults.

Hello,

Thank you for all the wonderful words of wisdom. Yes I had other AV's beside it but I don't think they would have travelled that far but one never knows.

They were in the very base of the violet and I really couldn't see them until I pulled the foilage apart and spotted them at the base.

I plucked all the leaves off and hubby took the garbage out so the little buggers can freeze their butts off! LOL!

I sprayed everything down with bleach on the counter and the containers the surrounding violets were in.

I have isolated the infected one and put it on paper towel on top of the dryer and will monitor before I pot it up.

Whew!!! That was a job and a half but one well worth it! Now my desk shines so nice!

Thanks again...you gals are a wonderful bunch!

Joanne

Joanne good idea to treat all your plant and again every 7 days for three times. Believe me Mealies do travel .

Hi Allison,

Boy are you right! I just spotted one of them little buggers walking! Well I better start treating them all then.

Do I just spray the foilage or how do I do it and what should I use?

Darn little beggars!

Thanks,

Joanne

Joanne their everywhere treat everything bleach everything you can. I read they can also be air -borne from shubbery outside from an open window. It says it's doublly or wise to drench any gravel, sand any other medium plants pots stand on. good t examine root balls in strong bright light. I'd spray all plants good don't forget under foliage. Also I'd drench water it into the soil. then repeat 3 times every 7-10 days. Isolate for at least 3 months.

they move faster during some times of days more than others. late afternoon was exercise time for the ones I had. If you can use systemic, I would recommend it. Again, anything with imidacloprid as the active ingredient is great for mealies.