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When mealy bugs claim a plant as their home , they can cause quite a bit of terms , admit killing the plant . high-risk of all , they run to spend clock time in your industrial plant ’ soil , so mealybugs can be tough to get disembarrass of .
Due to this , mealybugs are dirt ball pestsplant owners should be aware of .
Mealybugs up close living in soil
What Is A Mealybug?
mealybug issue forth from the family Pseudococcidae and are found in warm , damp places . They are little , about 1/20″ to ⅕ ” of an inch in size . They have pinkish trunk with waxy , white cottony tendrils that induce them to come along fuzzy .
Mealy bugs are often fox withwoolly aphidsand works scales thanks to their similar show .
These bugs love warm and moist climate and are more in all likelihood found in nursery . The mealybugs provender on plant sap and secrete a waxy rest that is a surefire sign of their plague .
You will rule little ashen Mealybugs on the undersides of leaves or near the base of stems . A good house of mealybug presence is strange balance on leaves or grease with a cottony whitened - seem wax . [ source ]
A molded or yellow industrial plant can also indicate a soil with mealybug plague .
What Damage Do Mealybugs Cause?
Root mealybug populationsinfest soil in nearby plants and lie down eggs along the base . This can prevent the plant from take enough water to survive . yellow leave and wilt are sign that stem mealybug are present .
In large issue , mealy bug can drink down off a to a great extent infested works and can spread across your nursing home or garden to other healthy hosts .
Mealybugs use every part of your plant for their menage and living need . While the warm , wet potting mix is stark for harboring their nut , the leaves and stems make for a tasty treat .
Since these bugs are prone to infest your works quickly and thoroughly , it ’s vital to take action as before long as you know their front .
How To Control Mealy Bugs In Potting Soil?
There are a few ways to control mealybug pests to pull through your plant . Natural redress can forge well in little identification number to contain infestations . Chemical solution may be needed for large number of base mealybugs .
The best fashion to control a mealybug infestation is to move the infected plant away from all your other plants to quit the spread .
Related : Are Soil Mites Bad ?
Natural Mealy Bug Control Methods
Soapy Spray : The University of Wisconsin recommend using a soapy spray to eliminate mealybugs . [ source ]
Mix one congius of water with two tablespoons of mild dish soap . Spray the insecticidal soap mixture on your plant and in the plant soil . This will deter mealybugs from living in your flora ’s quad .
Dryout The Potting Mix : Another wind is to dry out the grime . While this may not work for all plants , it can help . Root mealybugs love wet and will evacuate the industrial plant if there is none present .
Cold Temperature : Moving your works to a cold distance will also deter these insects . If it is cold outside and your plant can resist the temperatures , you’re able to opt for moving your plant to get rid of these hemipteran . I would not recommend this option .
Rubbing Alcohol : Dip a Q - tip in rubbing alcohol and dab any visible mealybug with the result . The bugs will release brown and cash in one’s chips . They may potentially propagate alcohol to other mealybugs in the process .
It ’s crucial to mind caution with this proficiency , as too much alcohol could hurt the plant .
Chemical Mealybug Control And Treatment
If the mealybug plague is severe , use natural insecticides like Neem and Diatomaceous Earth . These organic option control undesirable insects and mealybug populations .
Unfortunately , insecticide can only do so much . Larger infestations may require drop the plant aside to avoid spreading mealybugs to other plants . While this is n’t a pleasant choice , sometimes it is necessary .
The best direction to deal with mealybugs is to remain argus-eyed . These worm get in when purchasing new plants at the garden centre or from a nursery .
Inspect new plants ’ soil and origin systems before adding them to your collection . Check for the cottony wax balance of grunge mealy bug or the bugs themselves .
If you find these pestilence in your new houseplants , use the above methods to get rid of mealybugs in the dirt before introducing the new plant in your space .
