How do I get rid of mealybugs on inpatiens?

Carolina U
by Carolina U
  3 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 29, 2012
    Your best defense is a good offense, Carolina. That is, give every plant a good looking over before you buy it to make sure you are not introducing a problem to your garden. For mealybugs, look for white flecks or cottony residues along leaf midribs, on leaf or stem axils and on the underside of leaves. Botanigard is one biological control that has shown some effectivensess. For a chemical control to be effect, you will have to apply it when the mealybugs are very young, in their crawler stage, because this is when their bodies have the least developed waxy covering. To start with the least toxic solution, a strategy we always recommend, try spraying with an insecticidal soap, to help dissolve the wax coating, following by horticultural oil (making note of any temperature-related use restrictions). Good luck!
  • Toni Toni on Jan 03, 2016
    Ego friendly, lemon water or Joy dish soap, insects don't like lemons...
  • Marta Marta on Jul 10, 2020

    I am spraying my indoor plants with vinegar + water and it seems to help. Any other suggestions for getting rid of them?? as they can walk I can sometimes find them on the sides of the pots.