I'd mention it. There's a good chance they have alcohol and q-tips there. lol! If they don't seem interested, ask if you can do it.

Tell them! Maybe the people there will be so creeped out that they will give you the plant!

Billy Rae!

" * Posted by greattigerdane z5NY (My Page) on
Fri, Jun 8, 07 at 0:45

'Tell them! Maybe the people there will be so creeped out that they will give you the plant!'

Billy Rae!"

LOL!!!

Wow. Now whenever I see a plant I like in someone's house or office, I'm going to convince them that they have mealy bugs so I can get the plant. Even if they don't have mealies. :-)

I would tell them Gabi. They might appreciate it.

Too funny, both of you :) I actually thought that they might just give it to me if the bug thing freaked them out...I'd love a var. rubber tree, mealies and all!

And Socks...you're right, I'm sure they could spare some rubbing alcohol and q-tips...maybe some tweezers too - I'll be doing my own "procedure" in the waiting room - great way to pass the time while I'm sitting there!

Gabi, tell the receptionist..Do you know who cares for their plants? Does a compnay come in or do they water themselves?
I wouldn't go in their, (sneaking) cures..LOL..
Explain to the receptionist you are a lover and knowledgable of plants, and noticed their Ficus (rubber tree) had plant bugs called mealy which are contageous to other plants, and will eventually kill them...see if she's willing to do anything, or explain you don't mind working on this plant to rid bugs.
Since it's a docs office, they should have supplies you need, otherwise, ask if you can bring your own.
Since u see the doc every 2 wks, that'll give u enough time to work on plants..Hope there's nothing seriously wrong w/you that your seeing the doc so often..hugs, Toni

Thanks for the hugs Toni :)
I actually go twice a week, not every 2 weeks (yes, I practically live there!).
I got into a pretty bad car accident in February (my SUV was hit on my side by someone running a light and it flipped over THREE full times). Thank goodness I was not badly hurt at all. But I do have some herniated discs in my neck.

Anyway, the doctor's office is actually a chiropractor's office...but I go there for the masseuse to get massage therapy on my neck - Yes, my car insurance company (No Fault) pays for MASSAGES!!!

To answer your question about whether they have a company that takes care of the plants...I doubt it. They have very nice plants but it seems like they are gifts from patients...just small plants like pothos and whatnot. They have mostly those plant basket mixtures.

I was just joking about sneaking in some stuff and fixing the plant. But I will mention the bug situation to the receptionist. I like your wording Toni...I'll say something similar. The receptionist is pretty young and could probably care less, and she'll think I'm nuts....but I can't bare to look at those mealies every time I go in there. If they don't want to do anything, that's fine...but they probably have no clue what mealies are, so I should at least tell them. What they do with that info is up to them. Of course I'd help them if they seemed interested.

Posted by amany MI / 6 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 8, 07 at 6:03

**I'm going to convince them that they have mealy bugs so I can get the plant**

Hey, that's a great idea! LOL

How awful Gabi! Flipped Three Times??? Wow, that must have been soooo scary! Glad your doing ok after that!
Good luck with getting completely better, and good luck with the "mealy plant" whatever happens.

Billy Rae

Thanks Billy Rae :)
Yes, very scary but I'm alive :)
I like Amanda's idea too...I think I might steal that idea if I ever see I hoya I want at someone's house! "Oh, you have a horrible infestation of mealy bugs. Sorry, there's no cure...why don't I throw that out for you on my way out?"

Yikes Gabi,

That accident sounds horrendous, you are mighty lucky not to be more injured than you are! Thank G_d for car insurance, eh?

As to the mealies at the Chiro's office, I'd ask to speak w/ the Office Mgr if they have one & explain abt the mealies to her. I too see a Chiro for 20+ yrs. & my general experience w/ them is they're a bit more aware than most physicians. Perhaps the Office Mgr will want yr. help & also realize that for patients who know plants, a mealy-infested plant doesn't reflect well on their office (than again, many folks won't even notice). Can't hurt to try.

A number of yrs. ago I bought a Phal Orchid at KMart, 1st time I'd been in one. I happened to see a little potted Hoya (KP, KQ or Compacta, I forgot which) which had mealies which I knew I could cure (w/ Marathon systemic). When paying (it was tagged something like $2.99), I jokingly asked if the bugs cost extra. When I showed the cashier the mealies, she gave me the plant for free.

Gabi, that person must have hit your SUV hard for it to turn over 3 times..You are very lucky..Someone was watching over you.
Were you in the hospital after the accident? I hope the other person was found guilty, and not only your insurance paying but his/hers.
Herniated discs are no fun. No wonder you see the doc twice a wk..and since Feb!! Thank God you're okay, other than your neck, which is bad enough..Hope there weren't any other complications..good thing you were driving a truck rather than a car..

Back to the mealie..do you have a plant book w/pics of mealie? That'll scare their pants off. LOL..you know how they magnify pics of bugs which make them look creepier than they are..LOL..

Karen, you lucked out w/the plant..do you still have it? Did you ever rid those darn mealies? Toni

Toni,
I am in the process of sueing the other person. We'll see what happens. NY has "no fault", so she wasn't found guilty immediately after the accident. Also, the police report didn't say anything about her running the red light, even though there were witnesses there...they even wrote that there were no witnesses - unbelievable.
As for someone watching over me, it just so happens that the accident was 3 days before the anniversary of my mom's death. So I think she was my angel watching over me. The car that hit me was actually a big pick-up truck, so if I was in a regular car and not an SUV I would not be here today. So, you best believe I am driving a much bigger SUV now...a TANK! The craziest thing is that my 88 year old grandmother was the passenger in my car, and she is FINE! She's better than I am...just a couple of bruises. Thank goodness.

The picture idea is great...I will bring in some pictures printed off the internet (they'll think I'm even more insane, but who cares?).

Karen, next time I go to a nursery or big box store, I'll be sure to look for a hoya with mealies and see if I can get it for free! Thanks for the idea :) Of course I'll keep it quarantined until it's cured, but you can't go wrong with a free plant!

I think it had been a varieg. H compacta that I'd gotten free due to mealies.

Gabi, I wouldn't ordinarily advocate knowingly getting plants w/ bugs but I KNEW I could get rid of them w/ Marathon systemic, which I did. I have since learned Marathon is no longer for sale to amateur gardners. Should I use it again, I think I'll use a mask & apply it while outside only.

Toni, I think I later lost the plant due to bad care on my part. Since I learned a lot abt Hoyas, I can't seem to grow H compacta anymore, yet I did GREAT w/ it when I knew absolutely nothing abt them. Am trying again tho', got another one last wk, so I really need to learn this guy's care (I think it was that my watering wasn't right for it).

Gabi, what do you mean NY has a no fault? That sure doesn't seem fair..and the police didn't write down there were witnesses? Something is definatly wrong. I know you were probably shaken up, but did you happen to get any witnesses names? Thank God your grandma wasn't hurt, especially at her age..she really lucked out..Tell me, was she your mom's mom? Strange indeed..I know most ppl would think I was flaky for thinking this, but I believe our loved ones on the other side protect us in certain situations. Just an opinion..
You're driving a tank now..LOL..I believe it..heck, if my car turned 3 times I would too..lol. Just thinking about a turned over car makes me nervous..

Karen, how can they detect an amateur from a professional? Does one have to carry some type of paper stating they're professionals? LOL. Why did they ban Marathon? Was it banned from NY or all over US?
To be honest, I thought Hoyas were all cared for about the same way..except variegated might need a bit more sun..Shows how much I know...Good luck trying again..
There's a hoya I'm interested in on Ebay..it's the Sweetheart..I've got two now..green, green and white..but the one I want has yellow in center and green around edges..I wrote to the seller but he never wrote back..wonder why..It's 12.95, only has 4 leaves..Plus saw a nice one at HD this wkend..thinking about getting it..can't recall its name, but cute. Well, good luck to everyone..Toni

Toni,

I agree....it's absolutely crazy that NY has "no fault". I was blatantly hit by this pick-up truck in an intersection, and about 3 people saw her run the light! I have no idea why the police report says there were no witnesses....it boggles my mind. I didn't get anyone's information because I was being hauled into the ambulance (and I was kinda out of it!), but either the witnesses walked away and didn't say anything to the police, or the police "accidentally" left the information out. It really ticked me off, but what can I do? If I were a witness to something like that, I'd do everything I could to report what I saw. But who knows...the neighborhood was kind of sketchy...maybe that's why nobody wanted to stick around. There's nothing I can do about it now.

To answer your question...no, my grandmother is not my mom's mom. That would've been crazy, huh? I don't think you're flaky at all - I completely believe in that also. I really believe my mother was protecting me. I have even been to a medium (like John Edward) to "speak" with my mother. I'm telling you, I really spoke to her. The medium could not have known what she knew. But that's a whole other topic that I won't bother people with. Now you all probably think I was hit in the head one too many times in that accident!

As for hoyas, I'm a big hoya addict. They mostly need the same care, but some like to stay more moist than others (and some more dry). Compacta is one that likes more moisture. Toni, do you have any hoyas?

Karen, I would never knowingly take a plant home that was infested with bugs...I was just kidding. But it's good that you clarified that for others who were gonna go on the hunt for bug infested plants! Definitely not a good idea!

Gabi, what a strange law..So, if someone hits another person/car, they're automatically innocent? Out here, everyone is sue happy..if someone touches a bumper, suddenly the front car driver has terrible back pain, goes to hospital, hire a lawyer, and get &&&&&..Sueing has really gotten out of hand, and there are so many crooked lawyers it makes me sick..Sorry if there are any attorney's out here..LOL

I think it's great you found a legit medium. Wish I knew of one, but there's only one woman here that my friend visited, but I don't trust this woman at all..what she told my friend are things she wanted to hear..naturally nothing happened as she predicted..LOL.
I stupidly phoned one of those tv psychics..the ad said first 5 mins were free..Right..when I got my phone bill they charged 20.00, and I timed the call..I couldn't dispute it cause I didnt want my dh to know I called one..LOL. On top of that, they would phone here daily..once they got hold of my number..It was terrible.
But I do believe there are ppl who can help the police w/murders, etc. In fact, many police use mediums to help. If you feel this medium is telling the truth, then stay w/her. I think it's great..Some time you'll have to tell me what she said ...if u feel comfortable doing so.

I have about 9 hoyas..Some are really tiny cuttings bought at Accents. How about you? How many do u have? Do they bloom?
I really want that one on Ebay..in fact, going to go back and write a letter..lol..Toni

LOL Toni. Gabi is the "Hoya Lady". The pictures of her hoyas are absolutely gorgeous.

I'm kind of sketchy on the specifics, but MI is a no fault state as well.

LOL...Amanda, the "Hoya Lady" - I like that (*blushing*).
I have about 30 hoyas maybe. I'd love to have more but I just don't have the room!!

Toni,

Sueing is a whole different thing. If you can prove somebody was at fault (witnesses would be great for that!!), then you can get paid out well. But "no fault" just means that nobody will be faulted for an accident (I think).

I will be happy to tell you all about the medium....email me whenever. I have it all on audio tape. I've seen her twice. She's the REAL DEAL. Sorry you got suckered into so much money...those TV things are usually bull!

I bought some Marathon granules over the web a couple of years ago at retail. Not easy to find, but there is a "wholesaler" that sells over the internet to the general public (email me directly at the address above if you want the link - don't email thru gardenweb since their email doesn't seem to be working very well lately). The granules aren't cheap - $125 to $140 for a 5 lb. jug (which should last a long time, even if you have a lot of plants).

For the granules (unlike the spray version), you don't need a mask or to go outside. We use the granules professionally indoors frequently and they are legally labelled for that.

So I went to the doctor's office today, and I worked up the courage to bring the mealies to their attention. They seemed very grateful and asked how to take care of it. So I'm happy I said something! Thanks to all of you for your great advice :-)
Gabi

Gabi, maybe you could swap plant care visits for doctor's visits? You just may end up with a new career as a plant lady, like me!

Good idea Watergal :)
If I wasn't getting these visits for free (no-fault pays), I'd think about it!

Dear Watergal,

Thanks so much for the Marathon details. While I haven't used in in sevreal yrs., mine too is the granules (didn't know there was a spray). I was just guessing to be on the safest side. My Indoor Gardening Society ordered it in bulk (large bulk like you mentioned) for us & repackaged it much smaller for the Membership (maybe an oz., but for $5). I didn't know either way how it was labeled for indoor use (as they only reproduced the application directions portion for Membership's use). I wish they had given us the literature, but they never did. I just stopped using it to be on the safe side & had since heard abt using Grapefruit Seed Extract, that was likely to be the next thing I used for mealies next time.

Pirate - you can find labels on the web. Here is the one for the granules.

Here is a link that might be useful: label

Is that similar to the Bonide granules I see at the nursery? I think what they have is for house plants. I don't know if the active ingredient is the same though.

I don't think so. Marathon's active ingredient is imidacloprid, which you can also easily find in Bayer Rose & Flower Spray or Bayer Tree & Shrub Drench, but those are only designed for outdoor use.

You're right. Bonide has Disulfoton (Di-Syston). How effective / safe is that?