Always be careful

[estación seca]

I like the variegated forms of the shade shrub Aucuba japonica. It does well as a house plant in very dim light, and tolerates the frost we have here outdoors. I haven't seen any sold here for years.

While visiting family last fall I saw some at a well known nursery. There were three small rooted cuttings in a 3" / 7.5cm pot. I inspected it carefully and saw no bugs. I brought it home with the intent to separate and repot this spring. I know it tolerates our mild winters outdoors, so it spent the winter in my carport.

I was a little surprised it didn't make new growth when temperatures began warming here in late January.

I separated them and repotted today. I found out the problem: Two of the cuttings have visible, small mealy bugs at the growing points.

After repotting I sprayed the plants with soap solution. They will remain outside for some months before coming into my sunroom when it begins to get really hot. It's still too cool for mealy bugs to reproduce fast outside. I will treat it with soap alcohol again every few days.

[Diane56Victor]

I searched for a pic and I know it by its common name of gold dust plant, thats what my Grandad called them.
They are beautiful, I can see why you like them. Good catch with the mealy bugs. They have been a plague here this year, everyone in my local club has complained about them.