isolating in situ

[lobotomizedgoat]

At the moment I have some plants isolated in a separate room from my main grow area due to mealybugs. They should be fine there but it is a less ideal location than my main grow area. I'm curious if anyone has had success keeping at least lightly infested plants in place without spread.

My thoughts are this should be achievable if:
1 - the plant is placed on a double tray filled with water to create a moat
2 - the pest cannot fly, swim, or easily fall off the plant beyond the moat
3 - the plant has no physical contact with others

It's probably silly but I'd love to hear some thoughts and alternative strategies.

[Ray]

In my experience, even a single plant “lightly infested” with mealy bugs means everything gets treated.

[Dimples]

I agree with Ray. Treat everything. Only treating the plants that have visible MBs is a great way to never be rid of them. One MB on a “clean” plant will restart the problem over again in short order.

MBs can survive for long periods without access to a plant. There are probably explorers elsewhere in your grow space/house, and they’ll climb onto any plant they come across.

[thefish1337]

I got mealy bugs from buying some succulents from a local rare plant sale. You would be suprised where they can go- I found them on the roots of my succulents and treated. Forgot about them for a month or two only to find the damn things on the flower of my Psychopsis mendenhall...

Treat your collection and stay vigilant.

[camille1585]

I would not do that.... Mealies have seemingly magical abilities to spread everywhere, and spread quickly. Get those plants into a separate room, and then treat everything to be on the safe side.

[lobotomizedgoat]

I am treating everything at the moment, and watching carefully. The plants I've seen bugs on are isolated under the assumption that they have the highest population density, and thus most potential vectors for spread.