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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
Posts: -195
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Thank you so much for your help. I checked the rest of my plants and the rest of the ivy's have them too, so I think I'm going to have to end up throwing them out. I know it says to treat them with rubbing alcohol, but there are just so many of them. Does anyone know what causes them to get on your plant? I've been researching on the internet and the only thing that I can't seem to find is do they only live on plants, or can they survive in your carpet too?
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
Posts: -195
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Before you get rid of them, try a drenching spray of all parts of the plant with soap and water (about 20 drops of washing up soap in a pint or so of water). You won't get them all the first time, but two or three sprays should help a lot. These guys only live on plants, but getting just one in on a new plant can infest the others fairly quickly. Horrible creatures! Derek
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
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Derek,
Thank you for your help. I can probably save a couple of them, but there are 2 ivy’s that have just so many that I don’t even want to bother with it. How long should I wait until I bring new plants in to replace the old ones? Will they ever be completely gone? What causes them to get on your plants? That’s what I really want to find out, because I have ivy’s for a very long time, and I have never had this problem before, so I want to find out how I can keep them off of my new plants and out of my house.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
Posts: -195
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I just went to water my pothos, and see all this white cotton like substance. I looked it up on the net, and it said it was mealy bugs. I wanna know what causes them toooooo!!!
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
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I haven't been able to find anything that says what causes them either - really annoying, especially since I live in the city and don't have animals in the house and this is our only plant!
At first I thought it was mold, so i kept watering.. the only thing it did say is to make your plant resistant to them by keeping in a place where they aren't in a corner or in humidity. The air should be constantly circulating because the bugs like to hide in the darker sides of the plant.
It also said a product called NEEM or BioNeem, helps to kill them, and all other possible bugs and it's all natural from another plant so it won't harm you - its even good for house bugs too - if anyone finds out what causes these other than carrying them in on your clothes etc, please let me know
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
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I have a ming aralia that is about 20 years old and all of a sudden it is not growing except for a few springs here and there, and also has a mealy bug infestation. I have tried the insecticidial soaps which works for a moment but these pesty creatures always re-appear with new growth. Is there a product that I can put in the soil to kill them. Regarding the growth issues..I just repotted into a fairly large pot and I am pretty certain that it is not root bound.
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Rank: Guest
Joined: 11/9/2007
Posts: -195
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Hi all, thank you for all your replies and help. I finally called this plant doctor in NYC and as I was doing research I discovered that it was really mealy bugs. I got a closer look and actually found a little tiny one so I could see it's body shape. I had to throw out the plant actually because they were everywhere and it was too late. Thank goodness I don't have any other plants in the house.
But I thought I should also mention, that when you go to throw away the plant, if you check on the underside or near the soil and see ants, then you know for sure they are aiding and abetting the mealy bugs. These insects are known to help each other and work in tandem, so it's a good note.
The plant doctor did say that most plants are already bought with mealy bugs in them - depending of course where you buy them from - and the bugs can go undetected for years even.
The reason for this is that they don't actually spread or survive long if the plant is always strong, healthy and being maintained. It's when the plant is under stress that they notice and begin to spread - very very quickly - unlike the spider mites you'll see not webs but what actually looks like cotton all around the stems and branches and actually on the leaves. They love the underside of leaves and all the cracks. So when you buy new plants, be sure to check everywhere for even the tiniest signs, especially look for them on other plants in the store as well. chances are they've spread if they're on just one.
P.S. I actually sprayed mine with Lysol disinfectant spray and although it may sound harsh, if you do it with a follow up of warm water spray it actually makes a big difference especially in their cottony egg production.
The plant doctor also recommended just using soap and water or rug shampoo to clean the area once the plant is gone. But check for ants... the bugs alone cannot survive long if there are no plants around, so no worries on that front.
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