Alcohol for both root and surface mealies, B, but only because I don't want to use systemics, especially inside but also on the inside-then-outside-then-inside-again plants. I cannot tell you about the life cycle of mealies, but only that there are hundreds of species, IIRC, and they can live almost anywhere. I wasn't aware of the supposed benefit of being mealy-proof, but I would hazard a guess that it's neither here nor there - if there is root mealy, the use of a gritty mix might cut down on the 'feeding' of the critter, as there's no organic matter, but that they would live on regardless until they're eliminated.

BTW, IIRC (2) surface mealies and root mealies are in two different genera.

Mites aren't attracted to turface, they are attracted to the plants that grow in soils that have turface as part of the soil/mix and would also be attracted to a wide range of plants growing in 100% turface Mites are also attracted to the same plants that have 0% turface in the soil.

Canada I dont live there it's slightly smaller than Yet it is a big and more open country

B, I used to have a fairly large collection of succulent Asclepiads in San Diego, so many I could have opened my own branch of Stinkville. Anyway.......they were prone to root mealy in the worst way, and were grown, like the rest of the collection, in a mix of pumice and SuperSoil potting mix. Those were the only ones I consistently used a systemic on - it seemed that the plants would be doomed after the first year to death-by-root-mealy if one didn't. If it was just one or two plants, I'd treat individually, but if it were a collection, I'd go back to Diazinon or Malathion....but you're in NS, so maybe you can't get those things. I guess that rose systemic that many espouse here would work, too.

Thanks Jeff,

What concentration of rubbing alcohol do you use for root mealies? I have used that in the past both successfully and unsuccessfully for root mealies.. Well I guess all attempts to kill the mealies were successful, but I also killed some plants with alcohol root dips.. Do you uproot your plants to treat them or just submerge the whole pot? Mine are now in 2.5 inch pots (thanks bikerdoc!) so submerging would be easy...

I've heard that peat soils are much worse for root mealies... I've only dealt with them a few ones so far, fortunately. I am aware they are different from 'regular' mealies, with which I have much more experience. So far 2015 has been free of regular mealies (crosses fingers). A few years ago I had a batch of big one ones that squished green instead of red...

I went to Halifax Seed (biggest gardening place around) the other day looking for something to kill thrips, and found out they do not sell any systemics. They tell me they can't even sell neem oil anymore...

Thanks Nomen, but I am dealing with root mealy bugs, not mites

B, I get a gallon (oops, four liters) of 90% isopropyl from a pharmacy (that amount usually has to be specially ordered and one's bona fides verified, as apparently the same thing is used in the extraction of illegal drugs). I do uproot the plants and clean the soil off of them. The soil gets tossed into a bucket and then used somewhere in the garden. The roots, clean of soil, are sprayed and the plant set aside to dry.

You heard right, peat soils are attractive to root mealies. Just to make sure that that's what you have, when you depot a plant, does the root ball look like it has deposits of ash on the soil/roots?

You could always start a cottage industry and get a cochineal bug dye factory set up, but you'd need lots of the Opuntia they are farmed on - roots mealies aren't any good for that.

Rots of ruck on this!

Nope, the roots have bright white fuzzy patches on them that look like typical mealy fluff, I wouldnt say they look like bits of ash

Thanks for the info on the concentration..

The root mealies that I used to have in SouCal looked as if there had been ash mixed with the soil. As to the alcohol application, I just use a designated spray bottle and apply as needed.

Your welcome breton good info read and hope you rid them soon

breton
Are you sure that 'white fluff' on roots are mealies? Did you have chance to take photo?
Rina

Weird I respnded here earlier but my message is gone...

Rina I am about 98% sure but would be happy to be proven wrong! It seemed odd in that the plants seemed very healthy, and these white fuzz patches were only on some roots systems. I wish I had stopped and taken a photo, but I was deep into the mess and too impatient!

I asked because I remember seeing a photo of a healthy succulents root ball and there was lots of 'fuzz' - many very fine roots. Can't find a photo, so I am wondering ...Rina