One homemade insecticide that can really do the job is 70% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). I have cut back a lot of the plant in an effort to cut away the parts with the bugs but they are spreading like wildfire it seems. I’m Bird if Paradise has white stuff on it! Mealybugs don’t crawl very often, and it’s rare to see them moving. *I don’t but I have used straight ethanol rubbing alcohol (70%) for spidermites and mealybugs (in addition to this above recipe). Works great! Open a window when you spray alcohol solution. So, yes, definitely keep an eye on your plant very closely to make sure the little buggers don’t come back. Download your copy today! The alcohol will melt the protective wax that covers certain insects and dry the soft body parts of others, leading to their demise. On other sites, you’ll see the recommendation you can control mealybugs by touching each with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol… but I’m not going to waste your time. The thing about using neem oil is that it takes some time to work. Spraying alcohol will help kill off mealybug eggs. Here is the process I use to get rid of these pesky white fuzzy bugs…. The alcohol will melt the protective wax that covers certain insects and dries the soft body parts of others, leading to their death. This treatment is most successful against nymphs and adults, but, depending on the species being treated, doesn’t always work on eggs and pupae. Yuck, right? There are a few treatment options I recommend at this stage. This will kill a large number of the mealybugs, and help to give you the upper hand. When mealybugs steal too much sap from your houseplant, your plant can die. The alcohol will melt the protective wax that covers certain insects and dries the soft body parts of others, leading… I have found Ajax dishwashing liquid with vinegar and lime really useful. Take good care of your plants. Here’s how to get rid of whiteflies on your houseplants. If you get the concentrate, you’ll need to mix in a little bit of soap to help the oil mix with water (I always use Dr. Bronner’s Baby-mild Liquid Soap since it’s so mild). Sure you could spray your plants with a solution of vodka, gin, cognac, whisky or any other hard liquor, but that will cost you a lot more than would rubbing alcohol. Step 3: Once everything has been cleaned and disinfected, I spray the plant with neem oil and move it to a location far away from any other plants. For that large of an infestation, it’s going to take time to eliminate them, so be patient. If you prefer to make a spray solution that kills mealybugs of all stages at once, then mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 teaspoon of insecticidal soap or dish detergent and 1 quart of water. I spray it with 7 and it keeps coming back, what kind of bug ? Your email address will not be published. I don’t see anything crawling ! Step 2: Next I will wash the area where the plant was sitting with soapy water, and then use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area. These little white bugs on plants are most commonly found on new growth, along the veins of leaves, and at the leaf joints, but they can be found anywhere on the plant. For any stray mealy bugs you come across, squish 'em or dab with a paintbrush dipped in alcohol (vodka strength and above works well). Others are always hiding in places where you can’t see them and soon the infestation is back again, as bad as ever. I have treated it twice now. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like a good way to go. For a mealybug infestation outdoors, and of that size, your best bet is to recruit the help of beneficial bugs like ladybugs or lacewings to control them. Repeat as necessary. You can also make a mealybug killer spray by diluting 1 cup of alcohol with 1 quart (1 l) of water in a spray bottle and apply to the affected plant. Use the neem oil and soap treatment every few weeks until you no longer see the bugs. lady bugs i like that idea i normally have a few around the house .were are they when you need them. An alcohol spray is effective against mealy bugs, whiteflies, red spider mites, aphids, fungus gnats, and scale. As long as the pot has drainage holes, you can soak it to kill the bulk of the mealybugs. The worst part is that mealybugs will leave the houseplant to hide, and can live for a long time in spaces and crevices without having a host plant. Do not worry if you do not have this rubbing alcohol. Your email address will not be published. 4:31. Below I will show you how. Read more about where houseplant bugs can come from. It’s hard to get rid of all of the mealybugs the first few times you try. On small infestations on houseplants, a 70% or less solution of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in water may be dabbed directly on mealybugs with a cotton swab to kill them or remove them. Others are always hiding in places where you can’t see them and soon the infestation is back again, as bad as ever. The white winged bugs flying around are most likely whiteflies. I have the white powdery looking stuff on the stems mostly, but there are white winged insects flying around the area. One way to kill mealybugs on houseplants is by touching them with a cotton swab that’s been soaked in rubbing alcohol. Some types of plants are very sensitive to sprays, and they can cause more damage to the plant than the bugs. Potting Up Cacti | June 2019 - Duration: 7:09. Here are a few mealybug treatments that work: – Rubbing Alcohol. You can also add a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to insecticidal soaps and to other homemade insecticides to increase their effectiveness. They can hide around the edges of the pot, as well as on the bottom. It also dries out the bugs as it evaporates. I will spray the plant with neem oil again after a week if I’m still killing mealybugs on it daily. KILLING MEALYBUGS WITH ALCOHOL: Do not use any alcohol specially ethanol and methanol because they can damage your plant. The soap I use is very mild, and alcohol is a bit harsher, so it has a higher risk of damaging plants. Article adapted from one published on March 6, 2016. This leads to a gross black and sooty mold that starts to grow on it. Mealybugs are tough to get rid of, and the process can be super frustrating (trust me, I’ve been there many times myself)! Use 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for the task. One homemade insecticide that can really do the job is 70% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). The most common causes are…. Follow these tips and treatment methods to kill them, and learn how to prevent mealybugs from ever coming back! It can take several months to eradicate a mealybug infestation that is as bad as what you’re describing. It will take several treatments to get rid of all of the mealybugs, so be sure to treat your plant daily and kill any bugs that you see. ... Spot treat areas of mealy bug infestation with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol – simply dab the critters and rub them away. I’m a passionate gardener who loves growing everything from vegetables, herbs, and flowers to succulents, tropicals, and houseplants - you name, I've grown it! Dilute in water and spray all over, especially under leaves and on top of the soil. It will help you identify the bugs that are infesting your houseplants, show you exactly how to get rid of them, AND arm you with the tools you need to keep those nasty pests away FOR GOOD! Rubbing alcohol is a common solution for getting rid of mealybugs. The mold won’t kill your plant but it’ll make it ill. Alcohol tried out the waxy outer coating that protects mealybugs, so there’s a few differenct ways to use alcohol to kill them. Let it dry, and do it again. And the best part about it, is this is nice, safe alternative compared to the many dangerous chemical products that are out there. After spraying down the plant with the alcohol, check back on it each day and if you notice even just one mealybug, spray it again. Step 4: Dispose of the cotton swab or paper napkin. The shape of the pot and the tightness of the plants to one another would make it difficult for me to rinse easily and get the bugs off in a tub or sink. If so, new little pests will soon awake to try and regain control of your plant, so you’ll have to spray again every week or so until you no longer see any pests. Works great! Rub Isopropyl Alcohol. PS do you ever add alcohol to the spray since you mentioned it kills them too? With a single insect, like the one mealybug at the top, or a few like these aphids, soak a Q-tip in isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and dab it directly onto each insect. Read More... My one plant had it and now I’m noticing it on a few others. Thanks for your tip. Simply spray the succulents thoroughly and leave it there. Can I cut back the plant entirely to just the new growth or is that too small and if they attack that I will lose the entire plant. Spray on the plant (orchids) lightly, early in the day. For a mealy bug infestation on a big bowl of succulents, would you recommend soaking the whole plant /pot in a soap water bath for 15-20 min as you describe in your article on moving plants indoors from the outside? You can’t get rid of a mealybug infestation by only treating a plant once or twice (no matter which method you try), you have to be persistent. Booo! You can buy concentrated neem oil for pretty cheap, and a big bottle will last a long time. The rubbing alcohol will kill the bugs on contact, but in order for it to be effective, it must come in direct contact with the mealybugs. Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol to 7 parts water and spray it on plants affected by aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, etc. Spraying your tree with your soapy water daily will keep them under control. Furthermore, alcohol spray tends draw mobile insects out of their hiding places, making them easier to control. Some plants are more sensitive to sprays than others. How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs On Houseplants, My Proven Process For Long-Term Mealybug Control, How To Prevent Mealybugs From EVER Coming Back, how to get rid of whiteflies on your houseplants. This works 100% on mealybugs. Yes, directly touching the insect with alcohol will kill it, but you’ll only be treating the most visible pests. The trouble is that the combination kills only on contact and while wet. These elusive plant pests like to hide, so check the plant from several angles, and also under every leaf. Even if you are able to kill all of the adults, the eggs and babies are tiny and easily overlooked. Otherwise, if they look like fuzz on your plants, those are definitely mealybugs so keep reading…. Test the solution out on a small part of the plant 1 to 2 days beforehand to make sure it does not cause leaf burn (phytotoxicity). Also, be sure to either put the plant in a different location, or thoroughly clean the spot it was in before putting it back. Mix Dawn soap and alcohol in a spray bottle and spray down the plant and the top of the soil. I have these on a small tree in my yard and first hosed of the tree because it was just so gross! To get rid of mealybugs on plants dip a cotton swab in 70% rubbing alcohol and apply directly to the tiny fuzzy pests. natural houseplant pest control methods and remedies here, How To Get Rid Of Houseplant Bugs Naturally, How To Debug Plants Before Bringing Them Indoors, debug my plants before bringing them back indoors, How To Control Japanese Beetles Organically, How To Control Flea Beetles In The Organic Garden, Terms Of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy, Putting houseplants outside during the summer, Fresh flowers, fruits or vegetables brought in from the garden. Be sure to check those hard to see places near the stem. My green thumb comes from my parents, and I've been gardening most of my life. One way to kill mealybugs on houseplants is by touching them with a cotton swab that’s been soaked in rubbing alcohol. Using Neem Oil for Potted or Shaded Plants Mix together water, liquid dish soap, and neem oil in a … Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol to 7 parts water and spray it on plants affected by aphids, mealybugs, thrips,  whiteflies, etc. As an alternative to neem oil for mealybugs, a pre-mixed horticultural oil or hot pepper wax spray, and they also work very well when used directly on mealybugs. I looked under magnifying glass, it looks white with a yellow head! But if you want to get rid of them all together, then I would add neem oil into the mix. Step 1: Immediately bring the infested plant to the sink and thoroughly wash the leaves and stems with my soapy water solution (1 tsp of Dr. Bronner’s Baby-mild Liquid Soap per 1 liter of water), and give the plant a good rinse. Keep in mind that some types of soap can damage sensitive plants, so it’s best to test the solution on a few leaves before spraying the entire plant. 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