Hi,

I get this stuff too, but I dont think its bugs. If I touch one of the flowers ( if yours is in bloom ) it falls on the plant leaves. I think it might be pollen. It doesnt move or affect the plant in any way. Anyone else experience this?

Another possibility could be mealy bugs. If its heavily infested you'll have to buy an insecticide to control. Do they look like small cotton dots? If so its mealies. They are hard to get rid of. If you find a few on a plant you can use a q tip w/ alcohol and dab them off the leaves. Once you have a full outbreak its best to buy a good insecticide. Good luck!

Jen

If it is powdery mildew it looks like extra fine white dusting on the leaves. Somebody suggested spraying with a baking soda solution with just a bit of dish washing soap. Neem oil is a good preventive, Benomil - is a fungicide, another homemade thing is 1/3 milk to water spray.

Powdery mildew spores are everywhere - what is usually recommended - air movement on your violets. It seems to be more damaging when days are hot but night temperature goes down - isn't it spring outside by the way?

Good Luck

Irina

PS - and do not toss them yet

Well, mealy bugs seems to be the likely answer here.
The white spots are small, not powdery, more sticky than powdery.
Very heavy on the crown and stems with tiny dots on the leaves for the most part. I will continue to treat with alcohol...any other ideas?

Looks like you need to get some insecticide - like malathion - it is not that expensive - but it stinks. So - get some from Home Depot, read the instructions, and spray your plants OUTSIDE in a shade and keep them there until it dries. And do it 3 times every 10 days. If it is mealies - they lay eggs around your pot - under the dish, under the shelf - these guys travel. So wipe everything with clorax or alcohol.

Good luck

Irina