Is my Phal in trouble-Mealy Bugs

[edarion]

I was tending to my lucky bamboo plant. It possibly has mealy bugs. And then without washing my hands. I went across the room to my Phal that i'm trying to nurse back to health. I touched the drainage holes at the bottom and checked the leaves...

Is there a high chance I transmitted some over... and if so what do i do? Here's pics.

[RJSquirrel]

well welcome and howdy Ed. I think they were waiting for me to tell you not to worry about the mealys on the phal. Theres not much left for them to eat. I think if I was a mealy I would have walked right on over to the lucky bamboo too


Dont get ya feelings hurt none and go out and buy another phal and try again. We have all watched our phals at one point or another take a suicide dive off the table and end up in the trash can.

As for transferring mealys with handling I would say no but you never can tell so you should always treat each plant as if it were infected with the worst crap you can imagine. Be consistent with this and you wont forget to use care and caution. Looking forward to seeing you with a nice pretty big phal very soon gracing your countertop.

Now for the lucky bamboo....if those are all mealys all over that plant. It needs to go far far far away from your orchids. You can wipe the mealys down with alcohol or you can use the RJ method and see how far lucky bamboo can fly

[james mickelso]

Don't use the RJ method. It just gets mealybug guts all over the place

[AaronC]

Hi there Edarion. I have a very effective (And organic) method of getting rid of Mealy Bug and all bugs as a matter of fact. Like Squirrel said move that Bamboo FAR away from all other plants. Now go out to a grocery store or organic store that sells Dr.Bronners Peppermint Soap. Mix 1 and a half table spoons of soap per 1 Gallon (3.78L) of water. The soap doesn't hurt your plants and kills all bugs on contact. Spray as necessary and continue to spray the plant twice a week until all of the Melee bugs are gone.

[edarion]

What's the RJ method.

I've had the phal for awhile... They are living things after all, don't feel right just throwng it away.

I'm not sure that those are mealies or anything...

Is it uncommon for salt crystals to appear under neath the leaves of plants?