I'm not sure what "pool enclosure" means but it seems inconvenient to be constantly preventing the cat from getting in. What if he wants to hang out while you're doing laps?

Anyway. There is a long list of nasty things that imidacloprid does to mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and those pollinators. So here is my suggestion: get a bird cage. Then put insect screen on it. That way, if you have poisoned plants, you can just shove them in and they can still stay out in the sun. Some plants just need to be nuked. But it need not be rude and thoughtless!

Pagan

fakechuchi, U so funny.. my pool is screened in and my cat hangs out there and chills.. the lizards come and go and I keep lecturing them on doing their job. Why don't they eat the mealy bugs? a bird cage is an interesting idea though..

Marie, thanks.. at least its not just me.

I just hate spraying a bunch of crap. Even the organic crap gives me a headache.. seriously how can this be OK?

I use dish washing soap & water. A few ounces of dishwashing soap(Dawn) in water and spray. You may lose leaves, but you'll get rid of mealy bugs, spider mites, and white flies.

Lonnie

even when you have flowers? the mealies always seem to be hiding in the flower socket (not really sure about the correct term)..

Okay, I didn't suggest this before because most growers get really attached to buds. This happened to me only once. The idiot plant decided it will bloom in winter and then the little snows attacked. I'm not one to put up with such nonsense, especially not in winter. So I completely decapitated every single branch that had leaves and buds. Then I bathed the thing with neem. Watered it with neem. Sprayed the pot with neem. End of crisis.

Pagan

unfortunately that's kinda what I do.. I see the mealies and try to fight them until the plant is done blooming and then prune everything off that I think has the monsters.. sometimes I can't wait till its done blooming and cut the blooms off anyway. so all the pretty flowers go in the trash. and don't get me started with Aphids another horrible creature... I guess prune and spray with neem is the answer... bummer.

Oh I didn't wait for the inflorescence to be done. I hacked everything off right away too. That spring, I dosed the yard with ladybugs. When we bought a house, I stuck with the habit, whether or not I see anything out there. This was yesterday:

And anyway, it's still early in the season. There is plenty of time for your plant to regrow leaves and bloom.

Pagan

Lady bugs are awesome...