I've been trying to clean up those blasted lil cottony mealy bugs w/ q-tips and acohol for some time now but my av collection has multiplied so fast it's a time consuming and loosing battle. I have grankids and pets in the house so I do not want to use toxic sprays. Can I put trays a of plants in a garbage bag w/ one of those no pest strips to kill them or is there some kind of systemic I can water in to kill these lil buggers?
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P
ARGH! Mealy bugs!
no pest strips may be safe if you only leave them in the bag for a short period of time. In 12 hrs, many gessies will be toast.
You might consider getting Bayer's granular form of Tree & Shrub or Rose and Flower. Commonly found at places like HD and Lowes. Look for the active ingredient imidacloprid. Should be safe for most pets as it is supposedly the same as what is contained in some flea collars. (I haven't looked into this personally.) Not safe for fish and birds, I think it was. (pls read the label)
Works great on mealies, except does not work well on woody or papery parts (not really applicable to gessies).
I used Neem to eradicate the little pests on my hibiscus, after 3 applications, they are gone---and it is safe around children and pets.
I bought the neem oil to use on a case of powdery mildew on my begonias last winter and it didn't end up helping with that but now I have a nice sized container of it.
So threegardeners what was your application process with it for mealies in case I have ever have need? Did you spray the whole plant down or did you water with it or both??
Thanks ~Brenda
I sprayed the whole plant down, and sprayed the surface of the soil---hibiscus, hoya, oleander, a goldfish. Just make sure you have them where no sun will hit them for a few days. Sprayed every 6 days for 3 weeks. The bugs were gone, but I did it once more just to be safe :))
I have been spraying with water and a little Dawn soap I also have those hedge balls all over the house and about this time mice come so far so good no mice and the bugs are down to 1 or 2 ,I have been misting the last 4 days the plants and the dirt. I just brought in a plants from outside and it might have a few bugs but all is going well. My friend also said put some baking power and shake it well with the water and the dawn. Haven't tryed the baking powder yet but everything else is getting better
Dimmer( AKA) Kim
Thanks for the response. Maybe our new super Walmart that just open up last week will have one of these. If not I'll have to try Dawn or baking soda until I have other errands to run in next town over.
P