Thanks Jeff. I do use the alcohol on foliar bugs so I will do the roots too. Yes, all new soil and clean pots. I have them on some Crassulas and Echeverias and a couple others.

Curious how they got there-do you have a quarantine for new plants, Barb? That’s usually how they’re introduced.

I know from experience that they don’t need soil at all. They do fine in pure pumice or Lechuza Pon, another soilless substrate. They only need tasty roots...

Yes, I'm sure they came in on a plant from Lowe's. That is where I get most of mine. I try to quarantine but some slip by. I have too many plants, and it is getting harder and harder to keep track. Wish I could just keep them all outside but I can't. They all live in our sunroom which gets hot and dry despite the AC. Mealies love hot and dry. I am repotting every plant now. What a job. I had a feeling they would live in pumice, plenty of roots to chow down on! I am using a mix now of 50% pumice and 50% succ. soil.

Barb

Yep, unfortunately, root mealies do fine in pumice. I had them in a number of plants this spring, including cacti that are in a purely inorganic mix (pumice, lava, grit, turface).

A few of the cactus I bare-rooted and soaked the roots in warm (120°F) water, then replanted in fresh mix. Some plants I sprayed the roots with isopropyl alcohol. All plants then got treated with a systemic (imidacloprid). I used granules that you sprinkle on top of the mix (Bonide systemic granules). Before I bring my plants in in the fall, I plan to use a drench that has imidacloprid in it.

If you do use the systemic, make sure bees can't get to any flowers.

Imidacloprid, that is the stuff I forgot the name of. Thanks! Where can I find the granules? And the drench? Lowe's? It would be fitting that I kill the bugs with poison from the same place the bugs came from, right? Is there any smell to the stuff? All my succs are in my sunroom where I spend a lot of time, it is almost a 2nd living room. Thanks,

Barb

I use the concentrated drench, but they make granules too. It’s called Bayer all in one rose and flower care. Here’s a Link from Walmart. I’m sure you can find it at Lowes or HD. I‘ve only used the drench so cant speak for the granules, but it stinks. Smells like chemicals, but once everything dries out I don’t smell anything.

Pay attention to the labels so you know what you’re buying because all those poisonous products look the same. At least to me they do;). If you want the concentrate there’s a little watering can on the front of the package.

Also Bonide tree and shrub (for a drench) is imidacloprid. Some Bayer 3 in 1 spray (can be mixed with water for a drench) has imidacloprid in it, but some doesn't.... have to check the label. I bought the Bonide granules and the Bonide tree and shrub off Amazon. There is a product called Bayer (or Bioadvanced, I think they changed their name) tree and shrub, but it also has fertilizer in it, and I didn't want that.

I don't remember noticing a smell with the granules. My plants were inside at the time, so I probably would have noticed. I used the drench years ago... don't remember if it smelled.

So between alcohol and imid. I will kill them off. Eventually. Thanks to you who helped.

Barb