Mealy Bugs! Gah!

[Pilot]

I have a phal that came with a few on it-- picked them off and sprayed them down with a castile soap and neem oil mixture. I had a little girl crawling around the solarium so I don't want to use truly evil chemicals to kill these things.

I thought I had them under control until the phal began growing new leaves and roots-- the sudden growth, I believe, spurred these hideously nasty bugs on and I'm having a population explosion!

So, I guess the only thing I can do now is spray more often and isolate the plant...

But what do others say? What will kill these jerks?! I hate them with a passion because they're so gross.

I should mention the soap is spiked with peppermint oil... does wonders on many other bugs, no word yet on the mealy bugs.

Any suggestions? Oh and I'm also dosing with a systemic pesticide. Not sure if that was a good idea or not but I have to up the ante somehow.

[Paul Mc]

I had to remove the plant from everyone else, use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water over the plant, then pot in fresh medium. It shriveled up a bit from the alcohol, but t survived and they died!

[zxyqu]

Agreed with Paul, isolate immediately! I've had no experience with these but hear good things about rubbing alcohol, so what Paul suggests, I'd go with.

[Pilot]

Perfect... Guess I'll pick up some alcohol for the phal, too, while i'm out today! ;o)

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I found a few on a sickly phal I bought in the fall. I took it out of the pot and ran hot water on it, roots and all. then I dipped the whole thing in listerine. It had a spike on it and the flower was full of them, so cut off the spike. Repotted in fresh medium and have never seen any again. It is getting new leaves now.. Anyway worked for me. And believe me I looked that thing over every day and kept it separate for a couple of months.
Becky

[dounoharm]

the systemic is the way to go...its the only thing that will truely eradicate an infestation....spray as directed every two weeks for two months then every month for 4-6 months and you should be free....nasty method but it works....gl

[RJSquirrel]

and they try to run from you when they see you..mealys have beady little eyes ..
I had them eat 2 baby buds recently off a paph. ( they were on it when I got it , my plants dont have bugs). I think I actually killed the plant trying to kill them mealys. The plant was sad when I got it. I think the mealys had done a number on it already.

I cant say It was a successful mealy extraction if the plant died.


Im suppose to be helping .....righttttttt.

[ezil]

Keep that plant from all others for a couple of months! I learned that the hard way. I check my plants at least 2x a week and I have a magnifying glass and a small perfume atomizer (never had perfume in it) on hand. If I see something that even remotely looks like a nymph, it's war! And I don't believe in taking prisoners. I can see your point not wanting to use heavy chemicals where people are. It may take extra time, but it's worth the effort. Good luck.

[Paul Mc]

Yup - LIsterine would work as well - just be sure it's the brown plain listerine, not any other color. I regularly have listerine and rubbing alcohol/water mixture on hand for just such emergencies!

[RosieC]

I've used other colours of Listerine with no problems. I've avoided the ones with a very very strong mint flavour/smell, but the milder mint is what I have now and I've used others as well.