Think my palm has mealybugs - help!

8 years ago

Hi,

I've kept a palm for a couple of years (I'm not really a gardener) but now it has white fluffy looking patches at quite a few leaf junctions. Apparently this is likely to be mealybugs - I haven't seen any movement but after trying to clean a few branches off there are some slightly orangey brown small things in amongst the white stuff - I don't know if these could be bugs?

I don't know if there's any way to treat this. I'd rather buy a new one than use insecticides as I'm a student so breathing in all that stuff in my room all day. It's not tiny so cleaning each individual leaf with rubbing alcohol seems a bit time consuming. Is there anything that will actually work or should I give up and get a new one?

Thanks!

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Comments (3)

User
8 years ago
Buy insecticidal soap..., it's harmless to us and innocuous enough even if there are pets about. I would probably take it the sink or tub to hose off what I could first and then spray it. It's a relatively minor infestation from the pic above. Definitely reversible!
Primrose Moss thanked User
Primrose Moss
Original Author
8 years ago
Since I've never dealt with these before, how fast are they likely to spread on the plant? (It's term time at the moment so I'm really busy - am I ok to leave dealing with them till the start of December?) Also, do you know where in the UK it's possible to buy insecticidal soap? I tried looking on Amazon but most of the things that come up just seem to be pesticide sprays. Thanks!
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i_like_pi
8 years ago
You could try rinsing them off with water, like at a sink as a first attempt. I've had it work on small infestations and it doesnt take a lot of time. Controlling the population now is better than leaving it. If it comes back, then insecticidal soap could be used.