Soil mealy bugs aren't the hardiest pest in the world. You can control them with a warm water drench so I think a normal SD winter would make short work of these tiny tiny tiny critters. A 10% bleach solution will disinfect ANY surface. Bleach is rather volatile so you won't have a residue after it dries.

Next time you purchase another indoor plant, keep it isolated from the other plants and water the first three or so times with warm water (shower temp).

I'm not sure if those that advise against composting diseased plant tissue or insect pest infested plants have ever really done that or are just following the admonition given by others that have never done that. I have composted both, as have many people I correspond with all over the world, and as the writings of Sir Albert Howard describe I have found that the composting process will do mich to control these problems. I know there are people that tell you not to compost this type of material who have no idea who Sir Albert Howard is or what he wrote about. Compost those plants.

Barb, in all my years of growing containerized plants both as a hobby and professionally, I've never had an infestation of soil mealybugs. I really wonder how on earth you seem to be plagued with them! How long has this been going on?

Well, rhizo, I can say this. I lived in California for five years about ten years ago while my husband went to graduate school. So I had a lot of plants, and we lived in a tiny apartment in the family housing there. Most of my plants had to spend time out on the patio, or out in the community garden patch I had access to during that time. While my plants were outside, they got all kinds of pests that seem to be rampant in So Cal., like scales and these soil mealybugs. I finally got rid of the scales on the spider plants, and the ornithogaliums. The mealybugs I didn't even know what they were at the time. I remember a big pot of annuals that was infested but I thought they were some artifact of the ants, like eggs or something, which were everywhere putting all kinds of bugs on everything. It may be then that I first got them. I have a lot of plants that I've had for twenty years and more, like this big Cephalocereus. It got infested then as well, but I didn't know it. It was kept outside too. Then I have this way of watering that I think spreads the bugs. I got this idea from my mom who had African violets, and that is to water with a turkey baster, which keeps the water off the leaves. Also, you can extend your reach while watering with it. Unfortunately, I think you can suck up soil organisms and spread them around too, because it's sometimes hard to see what you're doing. At least that is what I think did it. So I think I have some culture issues that I am addressing. I don't know if your question was rhetorical and you really didn't want to hear all this explanation, or if you were just venting exasperation at my dumbness at having this problem, but I'm trying to learn here. I'm glad you have never had this problem. I bet you never bought a plant at Wal Mart. Some of their plants have them. I now do pay good attention now to new plants, plants I'm going to buy, and to all my plants, especially to the roots and soil. So, I'm trying to decide whether to toss the Cephalocereus that I've had for so long. Maybe I'll try petzold's warm water drench. That was a new to me thing that I also read about on an african violet web page. It isn't the best time to be drenching the cactus, but it would be good to try that first. Maybe the calla as well. Thanks to everyone who weighed in with a reply.

Barb

Barb, I was honestly and truly interested in how your plants came to be so pestered by these darned things. Your experience will make us all pay more attention to the plants we bring into our home.

You are very correct about how easy it is to spread a pest or disease problem from plant to plant. Tools, hands, and even misting can be culprits.

Good luck...I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.