Mealy Bug Treatment

[Ray]

It is important that you wet the entire exposed surface of the plants AND thoroughly drench the potting medium, as mealybugs populate root systems, as well.

Failure to do the latter is often the reason they "keep coming back".

Repeat that treatment three times at one-week intervals.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Ray

It is important that you wet the entire exposed surface of the plants AND thoroughly drench the potting medium, as mealybugs populate root systems, as well.

Failure to do the latter is often the reason they "keep coming back".

Repeat that treatment three times at one-week intervals.

That's exactly what I did last year (I think you suggested it) and they are back... I suspect pesticide resistance or the fact that a reservoir of mealies survived in a box of candles at the other end of my apartment.

[Ray]

There are three vectors for pests "coming back":

• You have not killed all of them - including eggs and juveniles (which are not typically affected by most pesticides).
• You have another source you're not aware of - like the "candle box" (Really?!?! in a candle box?)
• They are being reintroduced from the outside, suggesting that your quarantine regimen for new plants is inadequate, and/or your growing area is too open, allowing easy access by pests.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Ray

*You have another source you're not aware of - like the "candle box" (Really?!?! in a candle box?)

Yes really.... Apparently mealies not only can eat candles, but they get enough nutrition from them to reproduce, though not as much as on plants. I found them shortly before Christmas, when I was looking for new candles. I was shocked. They are indestructible! I had thought to treat all my normal house plants, clean the stands, saucers, and everything else in my growing area while all the orchids were outside for a month for their treatments. Never did I suspect that the mealies were also hiding in a box of candles...

[Pattywack]

Wow Camille, I knew mealys were tough to eradicate but I would never have believed they would survive on candles! How frigging nasty!

How are you going to treat your plants? If it were me, I would have to treat them inside, it’s just too cold out. Maybe spray and drench them inside of a plastic bag or some other container? I have a basement, that would have to be my option.