The leaves can get wet, that's how I "dusted" mine with a rinse under the tap every now and then.

Treat them with a solution of tepid or warm water (don't use cold) and a few drops of a mild liquid soap in a spray bottle. Really soak all the leaves, front and back and all the stems. You need complete coverage, don't leave any dry areas. If you do get any new ones after spraying the first time, you can do it again or, spray them as you see them.
Just keep the plant out of direct sun until the leaves dry.

Billy Rae

I dunno. Mealys are bad enough that I think you're going to need more than soap. Yes, leaving water on fuzzy leaves can make permanent marks on them, especially if the plants are in sun when you get them wet. But, you know, leaving mealybugs on fuzzy leaves is going to kill your plant, and possibly any other plants in the vicinity too (in fact, you should inspect any nearby plants very carefully, I think, because where there's one infestation, there are likely others). So it's kind of a question about whether you want an ugly plant or a dead plant.

If it were me, I'd probably be inclined to take a few cuttings and chuck the rest of the plant in the trash: it's not worth fighting mealybugs, to me, just to have a plant that's as easily propagated as Gynura aurantiaca is. (Granted, the cuttings might have mealys too. But if you taken enough cuttings fast enough, you should be able to outrun them.) If you have sentimental attachment to the plant that makes you want to save it, I'd go with some kind of spray containing imidacloprid, follow the label directions (which usually allow for you to spray the plant weekly), and move the plant out of direct sun until the crisis has passed.

The safest bet of all is to do both: cuttings and spray. If the spray works, you have multiple plants; if the spray fails, you at least have the cuttings as back-up.

Please be very careful about what kind of pesticides you use inside your home. Sevin is a no-no. I'm not sure if there is a imidicloprid spray that is labeled for indoor use.

If you do decide to take cuttings, you can rinse them thoroughly after you've misted them with a solution of rubbing alcohol and water. As a matter of fact, the alcohol mist (one part alcohol to three parts water) would be worth a try on your plant! Because of the fuzzy leaves, I'd rinse it in the sink after about 5 minutes or so. Use tepid water, no dish detergent.

Imidacloprid is labeled for home use, at least in Iowa. We sell several formulations of it where I work.

I just spoke with The Garden Rebel about the mealy bugs on my plant and he said to take a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol and swab the leaves of the plant. Scince he is a national talk show host I am sure that his advice is of the best!

Thank you for this info. i just bought my purple passion afew weeks ago, and i just repotted them, and thats when i noticed tiny whitish spots on the leaves. I'm going to try a lil rubbing alcohol and hope the