What is this weird stuff on my plant and how do I get rid of it?

Chaya L
by Chaya L
I have an indoor plant in my apartment and it has some sort of fungus or something on it. It's getting all over the floor underneath the plant and making the floor sticky.

Any advice on how to get rid of it, from both plant and floor? Thanks in advance!
  9 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 24, 2017

    That appears to be mealy bug. Repot in fresh soil,spray above and under the leaves with horticultural oil. As for the floor you should be ablate wash off if not use a little white toothpaste (not Gel) and rub into the residue.

    • See 1 previous
    • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 24, 2017

      No very readily available .Nursery centers or Home Depot,Lowes or Walmart should carry it. I use the brand by Safer but any bottle that states Horticultural oil will be fine. Word of advice make sure you repot the plant in fresh soil.

  • Ohio Sandie Ohio Sandie on Jan 24, 2017

    cold in Canada right now, place plant in bath tub to treat it. I use dish soap in a spray bottle, insecticidal soap as last resort, outside in the spring. you have to get every stem or they stay. That's why I prefer dish soap, safer to use.

  • Claude Claude on Jan 24, 2017

    I can't see clearly but plants sometime open drop sap...it's a pain in the neck. Just hose it off in the shower and place a small size rug beneath to keep the area clean.

  • Claude Claude on Jan 24, 2017

    You can use any gentle soap...I use my hand soap scraps diluted in water...or you can use a drop of dawn to a at.

  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Jan 25, 2017

    Try a vinegar- dishdetergen-water spray to clean the surfaces that its dripped on, and you can either prune the leaves so that they are not leaning over the sides or use a larger pot to catch further sap-drip.

    Good luck!!!

  • Joe Joe on Jan 27, 2017

    To me it appears it could be the result of the Aphid... aphids will leave behind a sticky substance ( their poo basically). If it was outside ants would be on it because they go after it because to them it sweet ... that is one way to notice aphids quickly by the ants... mealy bugs are white and has a cotton appearance... all stems and leaves need to be wiped down can use like dish soap/ water and little vegetable oil ( can help to smother critter)... if aphids.. they tend to go after new growth and adventually may cause a black sooty mold ..

  • Joe Joe on Jan 27, 2017

    btw I have same plant outside ( live in FL) mine blooms every year pretty wild to see since I use to grow these in greenhouse up north and they never got to that point)...

  • Chaya L Chaya L on Jan 29, 2017

    Thanks everyone for the advice!

  • Barsto Barsto on Jan 31, 2017

    Looks like scale to me. I use cotton pads dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove the little scale insects.(they don't move, but are attached to leaves). Make sure to wipe under the leaves also and along the stems. Then treat with soapy water in spray bottle, Safer insecticidal soap, or Neem oil,