mealybug treatment questions

[camille1585]

If the 3 in 1 product you have is a systemic pesticide, then yes that's normal. The chemicals need to get into the plant first and then taken up by the insects when they feed. If it's a contact product then it could mean that you missed spots. Adding a couple drops of dishsoap to the spray bottle can also help. Mealies have a waxy protective layer, and the soap helps the product stick to them.

Another option (for any pesticide) is resistance, which is why repeated applications and rotating of products is generally recommended.

[lobotomizedgoat]

Originally Posted by camille1585

If the 3 in 1 product you have is a systemic pesticide, then yes that's normal. The chemicals need to get into the plant first and then taken up by the insects when they feed. If it's a contact product then it could mean that you missed spots.

I thought it might be both but I may have things jumbled in my head. I'll double check and add soap with the next application.

---------- Post added at 11:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

I also thought of another general question I meant to pose. One of the plants I have growing nearby is a vanilla vine. It is based in a tall terracotta pot and is growing up a ~5 foot tall redwood tomato cage. I've been inspecting it daily and haven't seen any bugs yet, but to be safe I'd like to treat the soil with something systemic. The trouble is that getting it outside would be a real pain in the butt. My thought is that I could do a light application with a wash bottle and keep the room well ventilated until at least the surface layer has dried. Anyone have experience with this kind of thing?

[estación seca]

The water needs just a few bubbles, so 1-2 tsp / 5-10ml iz enough for a 5-gallon / 18 liter bucket. For neem or horticultural oil I follow the package directions.

[Dimples]

I'd be treating every plant in the house regardless of how far it was from the obviously infested plant(s). As other posters have mentioned, mealybugs can hang out in other areas of your house and reinfest plants later. Mealybugs can also be down in the roots where you can't see them.

Two of my houseplants are 8' tall ficus lyrata, and I chose to leave them inside for the second imidacloprid drench treatment. It wasn't ideal, but I didn't have anyone at home to help me take them outside.

The health risk from a drench is substantially lower (limited to contact risk) compared to spraying (inhalation/ingestion of aerosolized particles and contact risk). There could be some volatile compounds in the drench, so keeping the doors and windows open following application is a good idea.