re-using soil where mealy bugs were present on the plant?
pogonip
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (14)
gardenlen
14 years agojean001
14 years agoRelated Discussions
My recipe for mealy bugs and spider mites
Comments (13)Ladyblues, we have a problem. This is an organic forum where we discuss organic solutions to growing and protecting plants. Your solution, while it may have worked for you, is not an organic solution to those pests. Here's the gist of the problem(s): I didnt want to use any poisons All you used were poisons. Of course everything is poisonous if you use enough of it right? Well nicotine in the amount you used might not present an immediate problem but the fact that nicotine in any amount is disapproved for use in an organic program is a problem for this list. Rubbing alcohol is a poison in almost any amount and it is disapproved in an organic program except to sterilize equipment. The organic problem with any alcohol in organics is that alcohol kills the beneficial microbes living in the soil AND ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANT. Organic gardening is ALL about promoting and feeding these beneficial microbes. Mouthwash, being 25% alcohol, is just as bad a pure alcohol. Here are two affordable organic solutions to your specific insect pest problems. You can spray with diluted liquid seaweed. Hmmm, this is not really an affordable solution. Here's a much more affordable solution. Dilute milk at a rate of 3 ounces per gallon and spray that on your plants every 2 weeks. I dilute it even more. What I do is when I finish a container of milk, or when my girls finish their cereal in the morning, I rinse the container or bowl with water and pour it into a spray bottle. This is essentially free organic "insecticide." The way these materials work is that they promote and feed the beneficial microbes living outside the plant on the leaf and stem surfaces. Research has shown that there are between 10 and 20 layers of microbes living there - right in the full sun! When these microbes are well fed with protein and carbohydrates (not to mention minerals and vitamins), they will help the plant to protect itself. In essence, the sucking insects seem to avoid these healthier plants. If you use the same materials or others such as ordinary corn meal, flour, soy bean meal, used coffee grounds (another free source), or other ground up nuts, beans, and seeds, on the surface of the soil at a rate of one heaping handful scattered under each plant every month, then your plants will be on their way to resisting all of the normal pests we have. Scatter these materials well so you don't get piles of the stuff. If you get piles they will stink when wet. Good organic materials and practices are not stinky - and they don't have to be expensive or a hassle to use....See MoreMealy bugs on clematis Please Help
Comments (11)Thank you for your answers. Yes, I'll try to post my pictures, just for the sake of information. I would be glad to be mistaken. I know it's the earwigs ( or something else) eating the leaves, and I don't see any visible damage from the mealybugs. I also have a different kind of damage on the rose leaves, like trails eaten trough the leaves ( their thickness) and just a thin brown membrane of the leaves remaining.... but this is not the rose forum. I am in Toronto East, zone 6a. Trust me, mealybugs are an outdoor pest. Anybody knows if they die in winter? I have managed to cut most of the branches that were going through and low over my fence, and have not seen more than one or two bugs any more on my plants. I just scrub them down with a piece of the wood mulch that I put around plants, and smash them. I know about q-tips and alcohol, but I was a little concerned about burns/ dehydration on the very young twig knots, where I usually see the mealybugs. But it's just horifying to see so many bugs on these trees and shrubs outside of the fence... systemic would not be an option for me.......See More**Mealy bugs?** + **Plant ID help, please!** [5 pics]
Comments (11)Cheryl Yes, while jades can handle some soil as a part of mix, gritty/gravely mix is good - great drainage, air exchange. I think pruning depends on your 'vision' of finished plant. I personally like them potted single, with thick trunk. Others may have different likes. I like bonsai styles, but don't have enough knowledge... I would prune all of the branches - make them short; most likely I would cut off the thick one and pot it as separate plant. It is good time to do it. Yes to acclimatizing, especially if they were indoors for a while. Also if re-potting and pruning - I would keep them in some dapple shade/filtered sun to begin with (not necessary to bring them in), and keep putting into more sun every 2/few days (I don't know where you are). Here is photo of one with 'extra' branch, before: (there are many good threads on pruning on this forum - search for 'chopping jades')and after: If you like to start new thread, after opening Cacti& Succulent forum, there is large 'box' on top; put title of your thread in top column (where it sayz Example title), and continue with text & photos below. I wouldn't start new one on this subject - it's already 'running' and would be duplication. You could put zone/general location next to your name, it will eliminate questions "where are you located" :) Rina...See MoreMy plants have mealy bugs, do I throw everything away?
Comments (3)Cyann Imontestella said it - your mix was probably OK and many ppl use it without any problem. But there are times when it could have some problems: C&S mix could have too much peat in it. Only way to tell is to check the ingredients list on the bag. Not all manufacturers make it exactly same way. If that is the case, maybe it was staying wet longer than expected. Fungus gnats like moist and organic environment: wet soil, water standing in saucers, lots of organic matter in the mix and also fallen debris from plants. Maybe it was hot & humid in the room. And it takes only 1 plant brought in with some FG, and they will spread around. Same with most of the pests. Mealy bugs could be get rid of by spraying succulents with rubbing alcohol/water mixture (I have used it undiluted without any problems). It is better to spray plants since these buggers like to hide where you can't get to with q tip. Scale dies if you wet it with a q tip moistened in rubbing alcohol. They often stick to stems and the leaves. Or you could spray just as for mealy. While spraying, do not keep plants in strong sunlight, but it is OK as soon as RA dries up (pretty fast). There may not be need to throw plants out if you catch it early. I would only dispose of it if it was really overwhelming. Keep brand new plants (or any infected now) isolated as suggested above. Pick up any fallen-dried pieces of plants. Get rid of any standing water. Make sure all containers have drainage holes. Double check ingredients of C&S mix. Sift or rinse perlite to get rid of smallest particles and dust. You could add some grit to your mix you can get any - maybe25% C&S soil, rest equal amount of grit & sifted perlite. But you don't have to if you have only C&S soil and perlite - if the old mix is staying wet for too long, increase amount of perlite. You can use 60 - 75% of perlite. Using small fan helps a lot = better air circulation. Do you have garden, terrace or balcony? If so, you could keep all plants out there... How do you propagate the succulent leaves? Can you post photo? You can keep babies from the spider plant - leave them attached, or root for new plants if you wish so. I do not grow photos but I believe it is extremely easy to root it even in water (and I am not a fan of rooting plants in water, haha). Maybe wait with propagating bunny ears for a while - as Imontestella suggested :)...See Moretapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agopogonip
14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agopogonip
14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agopogonip
14 years agoHU-32897693
3 years agoHU-28029720
last yearHU-282200031
last yeargardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last yeartapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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