Pleione bulbs with Meally Bug

[Tindomul]

Thanks for the overwintering advice.


Yes the roots were dead dead. Just papery brown, hollow. As far as I know that is normal. I'm new to Pleiones too.

[Cym Ladye]

Mealies seem to be the topic of the day. See the new posts on both the Beginner and the Advanced Forums.

[rbarata]

Mealies seem to be the topic of the day.

Probably due to winter increased humidity.

[Tindomul]

Decreased right?

[rbarata]

Decreased right?

No, I meant increased.
But it all depends on your climate and growing environment. In climates with cool (not cold) temps in winter the tendency is to increase because, and I think you know this, when temps drop HR increase until you reach what is called dew point. Dew point depends on temp and pressure and is the temp on which the air can't hold more water vapour. When the dew point is reached, there's condensation (rain, for ex). If temps go further bellow it, the air capacity to hold water vapor decreases and it starts to get dry with low HR %. That's what happens in cold climates in winter.
The air comming indoors from outside is already dry, when you heat it, it's even worse.
In cool climates it doesn't happen because the air temp outside is usually far from the dew point which creates high HR %. So the air comming indorrs from outside is wet.
In my climate outside I have, in winter, HR > 80% and in summer < 20%.

[Tindomul]

Yea, my climate usually has cold dry air in the winter. Days like today are nice since it's pouring out. At least that's what it feels like indoors.

[rbarata]

Yes, cold climates are dry in winter.

[Cym Ladye]

I suspect that many plants summering outside are now brought into the house with lower humidity and less air movement, both conditions favorable to mealy bugs.

[rbarata]

Although there are hundreds of species, I've always read that mealy bugs thrive in high humidity while spider mites prefer low humidity.
Am I wrong?

[Tindomul]

No idea, I thought they all like low humidity.