Hate to be critical, but then whats the point in buying the plant and just not a leaf. Why can't you keep the mother plant if you are sure it's not infested!

Confused,
Drew

Hi Drew,

I didn't take it as criticism. It is a very good question. It can take several months, as I said before, before one can even see evidence of soil mealy bugs. That means quarantine the plants for up to six months or more to make sure that there is not an infestation. I knew somebody who had a violet for over a year before soil mealy bugs showed their ugly little heads. In less time than that I can have a new plant from a leaf cutting and have the peace of mind to know that I don't have any pests in that plant.

I would rather have a leaf than a plant for that matter. It is much easier, though, to find plants than it is to find leaves. So, I do the next best thing. I enjoy the mother plant until the baby shows that it is vital and then it is time to toss it. I know it sounds a little heartless. When I was a newbie I couldn't throw away a broken leaf without planting it to propagate new babies. After a while I didn't do that anymore. And it's usually true for almost anyone who grows African Violets. If you ever get an infestation of something in your entire collection you will know what I'm talking about. You will never want that to happen again.

Larry

Why not use diatomacious earth and repot after clearing out most of the soil? I do agree that drastic measures are the most effective means of a prophylactic, but it also sounds like it's not fun either. It's like the only prevention of pregnancy and STDs is abstaining...also not fun. :-)

minibot

Minibot -

There was a long standing joke about D.earth helping in a sense that it is so white that you just do not see the telltale signs of soil mealy bugs. And do not freak.

DE works only if it is dry and is consumed by grasshoppers or caterpillars. Gives them a fatal indigestion.

What we are afraid of - is mites, mealy bugs - soil and leaf - and thrips. Soil mealy bugs are not by affected by DE because it is wet and soft in our soil. And the rest of them just do not eat it, they are suckers, not chewers.

But your idea about getting rid of the soil is absolutely valid - just you need something significantly stronger than DE. And a lot of people try to avoid pesticides, miticides etc. For them - dip a leaf in a clorax/water = 1:3 - is easy. Unless they are against Clorax as well.

About fun and precautions - I understand that it is very very hard and lots of work - but the only way is to get yourself a hubby/wife/SO -(why cannot we order them from the grower?) - and have fun and violets together.

Good Luck

Irina

Hi minibot,

Well, I don't think that my method of controlling mealy bugs is as drastic as abstaining. ;o) It's just a suggestion. It's not mandate. Before I got my first soil mealy bug I didn't worry about it either. Also, I got the plant from a place that I would never have guessed would have an infested plant. Don't ask me where because I won't tell you. It wouldn't be fair. One can get soil mealy bugs from anywhere. If I could look at a plant and immediately know that it did or didn't have mealies, I would not go this route. But the truth is soil mealies can be present in a plant for months before they become visible. Maybe I am being a little compulsive about it, but I have the peace of mind that my collection is bug free.

I don't like pesticides and pesticides don't work very well for soil mealies. I know too many people who have treated their plants for them to find out months later that they have not eradicated them. Also, bare rooting a plant, although somewhat effective, is not a guarantee. Eggs can be present in the minutest part of soil that is left behind.

I put this post in as a service, not a mandate. I just wanted people to know that this is a problem that one needs to be aware of. If you don't want to do this then don't. I know that my method of control is much more fun than getting rid of the pests. I know, I have done both. It's more fun than abstaining too. ;o)

Larry

For a long time I thought Diatomatious Earth would not work when the soil was wet. But then if you know what this is you can understand why it will work, wet or dry.

Diatomatious Earth is ground up diatoms, microscopic sea creatures that are dead. It's their skeletons that cut the stomachs of critters like soil mealy bug.

But I do not trust DE to get rid of this voracious bebite. If a collection is inhabited by SMB, I would treat by chemicals because there is no biological cure and no natural cure.

Natural cure would be like picking them off and squashing them. Biological cure is using good insects to eat our enemies. There is no natural cure and no biological cure.

So if you have SMB, throw the plants away or use chemicals. If you keep them and use Safer's Soap or Neem oil or other products you will just allow them to multiply and share your bugs with those who buy or trade with you.

In the case of SMB the only way you can get rid of them is Chemical--unfortunately.

DE will help. But if you have an infestation I do not trust DE to get rid of them entirely. I believe DE would kill them in some stage if an outbreak just happened. But for a collection badly infested, your best bet is to throw them out or use chemicals. Imidacloprid, either granules or liquid form is recommended. Use precautions with any chemicals you use.

Verify the price of the chemicals you would have to buy then check the prices of plants on ebay. You might even enjoy starting all over.

Nancy

Absolutely agree with Nancy - Marathon = Imidacloprid- the best for SMB - is about $100.

If your collection is small - get a couple of leaves from each violet - and chuck the rest. Wash the leaves in Clorax solution - and 6 months later you have them in bloom again. Free. Or take the top of the crown off and root it - it will recover even faster - but more chance to have some eggs hidden in the nooks and crannies.

I had a good success with DE to stop the grasshoppers from destroying my gladiolas. Dusted 3 times after each watering and reduced the population of them eating mashines - so I can even see gladiolas coming to bloom.