Mealies - again!

4 years ago

I don't get it. Two months before bringing in my plants for the winter I started spraying with an insecticide. Every two weeks I sprayed. I couldn't find a mealy anywhere. I brought the plants in and continued spraying, again every two weeks. Under the leaves, in the axiels, on top, I literally soaked them. The plants were exceptionally healthy and growing like crazy. I was happy. The plants were happy. The bugs were sad.

This week I noticed a single mealy on my multiflora. Ok, no problem, I got out the q-tip and alcohol and whack! Mealy gone to mealy heaven. Today I check and a a few more of my plants have mealies! These guys have to be the toughest bugs going. They seem impervious to everything.

I fully expected this to happen since it does every year, but I thought I'd get until February before the war started. Now it's begun in December. I am no longer happy. The plants are no longer happy. The mealies - they don't give a S$@t. They just keep trudging on, crawling out of their bunkers, and sending reinforcements. Let the battle begin!

Have any of you started to engage them already?

Featured Answer

popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)

4 years ago

Mealybugs have been the bane of my existence for over two years. They are pervasive. I have found nothing to eliminate them. Because even if you get them off of one plant, they will be on another and eventually move from it. Also, they hang out on crevices of pots and wood as well. I have found them in the inner rim of pots, on wooden candle stands (that i use to add height for some potted plants), and even a chunk of petrified wood that I had on a shelf for decoration. They are insidious.

The systemic granules that contain imidacloprid unfortunately are not a panacea. Yes, I use them because I try everything I can to get rid of them and I think it's often best to attack from several angles. But they have yet to solve my problem.

I have a theory about systemic granules. Hear me out. They are dependent upon the plant taking up the poison into its blood stream for lack of the botanical words. So, I believe they work best on plants that are very thirsty and have more water in their stems, petioles, etc. But hoyas are not very thirsty and also tend to have more woody stems. They take and use less water. I have this theory that is why the systemics don't work as well on hoyas as they do on some other plants (think syngoniums, where they do work well).

One other thing I will mention is that Bonide sells a large jug of the granules and a smaller one that has a label that says "houseplants". The formula is identical. It's just a packaging difference. So buy the big one. It's less expensive and you'll probably use it.

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Comments (7)

Middl3 Fing3r
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
After your post I contacted my friend a Selby Botanical Gardens. She said they are most likely in the soil. The warmth of the interior setting brings them to the leaves.

Don't know if this is what you have but if it is here is a solution from

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/root-mealybugs#section_heading_12117

Picture included in the article.

Residential Recommendations

Because mealybugs are susceptible to systemic insecticides, I recommend treating infested plants with imidacloprid or some other systemic insecticide. Most of the systemic insecticides found in big box stores and garden center should be effective as long as they are labeled for residential use. Some formulations of systemic insecticides are labeled only for landscape use. Houseplants can be placed outdoors for treatment with such labeled insecticides. Tender houseplants should probably be placed in shade to prevent sun scald.

Good Luck

Kim
Bill M.
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you Kim. I'll pick some systemics up tomorrow. Let the battle begin.... 😂
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iochroma
4 years ago
I don't know why anyone would bother with imidacloprid granules; as you have observed, they don't work very well.

BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub liquid used as a drench is a more positive treatment. Wait until plants are dry. Treat all plants at the same time.

I do it once a year.

If you grow Hoyas, you will have to fight mealybugs; use the best weapon there is.
Bill M. thanked iochroma
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
4 years ago
BioAdvanced Tree and Shrub liquid active ingredient is imidacloprid. I have used the liquid spray formula as well. My problem with it is that it's not so easy to drench plants in the winter time here. I managed to drench a few outdoors before the weather turned cold. But I wasn't able to hit them all.

The granules are easy to apply indoors.
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
That is what I do I treat all my plants systemically for at least a month before they ever come in. For me that does the trick. I would also use the liquid form inside even if you feel you are failing. It will keep them in check. At least..

I treat systemically and also with a horticultural oil spray. Two combo's has always done the job for me.

Bill I am sorry about that battle. Stinks, especially root mealy.
Steven
4 years ago
I wonder if fast-draining mixes make the Bonide granules less effective? I tried them with a gritty mix and they seemed to just flow right out the bottom when "watering in".