Mawby-

Would be really helpful if you take a good photo of the pests and post it. Then we can all look at them and decide what to do.

No, you shouldn't wash your plants roots and all. Pest eggs will stay alive.

Small white bugs can be whitefly - they are mosquito size flying insects - they are not typical for AVs and probably moved on them from other plants. Most possibly it is the foliar mealy bugs... They are very hard to get rid of, in immature stage they fly and put eggs everywhere - and you will have every houseplant infected. Neem oil, soap... is not going to help, you will need some systemic pesticides.

If it is foliar mealies - I would take a couple of leaves from each plant, wash them in a diluted rubbing alcohol, recut them and set for babies. The rest of the plants I would respectfully deposit in the trash bag - pots and all - tie the bag tight and put it in a Dumpster. You do not need to spend hundreds of dollars on pesticides to clean $15 worth of Optimaras - and risk to infect the rest of the plants in your house.

I wiped down the plants and bagged them for now - I bealieve it is definitely the mealy bugs. They were tiny I didn't even notice until I really looked and I saw it but I had to make sure it wasn't my mind playing tricks and it started moving around the leaf. They are soooo small. I noticed two on one plant but I didn't see any on the others. I think I will probably propagate them. I actually had taken leafs when I first got them and put them in water but they weren't wiped down. I didn't see any white spots on them but I will probably toss them and take your advice. I'm going to sleep on it. I will send pics when I take the plants out if they are still there! These plants are suddenly very intimidating now that I'm reading about them...

I have disinfecting wipes with alcohol in them so that's what I used

You can spray them with diluted alcohol - I think 1:3 probably will be OK, but the problem is the eggs. Spray them, isolate and watch.

Welcome to the forum!! You'll make it through the infestation, no worries.

Thank you for the support I really appreciate it! My plants are in quarantine now so I will update you when it's time to check on them. I did take these cuttings Wednesday (wiped them down yesterday after seeing the mealy bugs on the bigger plants). Do you think they are definitely contaminated? If so I will toss them and try again. No visible mealy bugs on them

The bugs hide in nooks an crannies, lay eggs on the pots and on the windowsill. If you washed your leaves in soap and rinsed them - I think you are safe.

You are living dangerously, I can tell!

You have their attention!

Hi and welcome! You will weather this ok. I agree it sounds like mealybug, but the alcohol dilution used faithfully will take care of it. Not the end of the world just end of the mealies!

I would use a smaller container to water start your leaves. Easier to clean and better to see what is going on in the rooting process. Just my thoughts. Good luck and keep us posted!!!! Rosie

Hi Mawby, AVSA just come out with a really good mealy bug article in this week's newsletter. You should take a look if you have the time: http://avsa.org/growing_tip_journal

I probably would have returned the plants to Home Depot. But that's just me! :-)

It is about root mealy bugs- which are also extremely hard to get rid off. But you do not see them until you start repotting.

What Mawby is dealing with is foliar mealy bugs. Flying kind.

I.

Oh, I missed that part. :-]

Both are gross! I should have returned them. Oh well. They are still in quarantine. Will update you when I take them out. And I'll read that article because you can never have too much knowledge lol!

It is not a question of if, it is a question of WHEN you get them. So you better be prepared.