Mealybug Infestation- Please Advise

12 years ago

After beeing inspired by youall this past winter, I went my usual overboard and purchased some 40 amaryllis. I also got the bright idea? to keep them inside for the summer, (for the first time), in the plant conservatory where the most light is available to them this time of year(compared to the arboretum where every available patch of sunlight is taken). I forgot to tell you that i am TERRible w/ neglecting indoor plants. sooooo. Many of these amaryllis have contracted mealybug from last winter's conservatory plants(which are now outside).I have sprayed, earlier in the season, my indoor-gone-outdoors tropicals (cordyline, clivia) w/ 10% alcohol for their mealybug. Can I do a soil-drench for all the amaryllis(with what? an appropriate systemic?) or must i inspect and spray all the leaves-into-the-crown w/ the alcohol spray? I have also not fertilized them as much as i should have (so much for changing my ways), in fact only once, a few wks ago. Plse advise me.I am coming out of a major depressed and guilt ridden period and am trying to do better.i will follow your projected plan.here near boston, i would typically bring these into the cellar around october. It wouldn't bother me to have them bloom later than usual if that would enable me to fertilize them longer than usually advised(august, yes?)

thanks so much for your help,

mea culpa something major,

mindy

www.cottonarboretum.com/

Featured Answer

dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts

12 years ago

Hello again, Mindy..

Early this summer I sprinkled a pelleted product by Bayer with imidacloprid on just about all of my amaryllis. Last year I lost over 10 of my large prized bulbs the the NBF and they did a job on me so I was motivated this year to try a systemic poison..It's early, but so far all look good as far as the NBF but I've actually never had a mealy bug problem..thankful for small blessings..

It is a shame you didn't put your plants out..but you've still got the better part of 2 months left...you could start them out in morning sun..the sun is already lower in the sky..and continue to feed them..Feeding is very important! I put 14-14-14- Osmocote pellets on the soils surface and I still (just about every time I have to water) use a diluted Miracle Grow..I've got lots of happy green leaves..I know one can over fertilize and not end up with as many flowers..I've probably done that too in the past..

If I had a conservatory I would bring them in in the fall and let them continue to grow at their own pace and not force dormancy. I did force dormancy last year and I wasn't happy with the results and so this year DH is going to hang a few more lights in our furnace room (it's not completely underground and I'm going to let them hold on to their leaves as long as they want and continually feed them (less). I had about 10 plants that insisted on holding on to their leaves and they did better than the dormant bulbs.

It's true they will not bloom when you want them for the holidays..just buy a few new ones..but they will bloom sporadically for you for the entire winter..a nice treat..with 40 bulbs you should have lots to look forward too.

I'm down on the South Shore so I'm lot warmer than you are, but I'd die for an indoor plant room..take advantage of yours... and good luck..with your mealy bugs..I'm sure others have had the same problem and will be able to give you some good advice...

Donna

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

joshy46013
12 years ago
I knock my mealies out with the same thing Donna uses EXCEPT I use the spray bottle form!

It works quickly and is very effective, it protects for thirty days and you should follow the directions to the T to avoid future infestations!
Related Discussions
Infestation - Please HELP!
Q
Comments (10)
I disagree that they have the same general requirements. In my experience the Spath needs considerably more water than the others and the Dieffenbachia needs less than the palm and the prayer plant. As someone who was a florist for over twenty years I can tell you that most don't pot up dish gardens or basket gardens with any concern except how nice the plants look. I would separate them. You can group them together when you display them. I would also not have them outside especially if they get any sun. I see what looks to be sunburn on the spath in the top photo but it could be glare. Spider mites are common on the parlour palm and the dieffenbachia but not on the peace lily. the bug you posted a photo of is not a spider mite. Spider mites are arachnids not insects, they look like lice when you see them close up. They don't have six legs. Most people need a magnifying glass to see them especially if you are over 40. They are tiny (smaller than fleas) and found on the underside of the leaves which would show damage as loss of color in tiny specks.
...See More
soil mealybugs
Q
Comments (5)
Well, rhizo, I can say this. I lived in California for five years about ten years ago while my husband went to graduate school. So I had a lot of plants, and we lived in a tiny apartment in the family housing there. Most of my plants had to spend time out on the patio, or out in the community garden patch I had access to during that time. While my plants were outside, they got all kinds of pests that seem to be rampant in So Cal., like scales and these soil mealybugs. I finally got rid of the scales on the spider plants, and the ornithogaliums. The mealybugs I didn't even know what they were at the time. I remember a big pot of annuals that was infested but I thought they were some artifact of the ants, like eggs or something, which were everywhere putting all kinds of bugs on everything. It may be then that I first got them. I have a lot of plants that I've had for twenty years and more, like this big Cephalocereus. It got infested then as well, but I didn't know it. It was kept outside too. Then I have this way of watering that I think spreads the bugs. I got this idea from my mom who had African violets, and that is to water with a turkey baster, which keeps the water off the leaves. Also, you can extend your reach while watering with it. Unfortunately, I think you can suck up soil organisms and spread them around too, because it's sometimes hard to see what you're doing. At least that is what I think did it. So I think I have some culture issues that I am addressing. I don't know if your question was rhetorical and you really didn't want to hear all this explanation, or if you were just venting exasperation at my dumbness at having this problem, but I'm trying to learn here. I'm glad you have never had this problem. I bet you never bought a plant at Wal Mart. Some of their plants have them. I now do pay good attention now to new plants, plants I'm going to buy, and to all my plants, especially to the roots and soil. So, I'm trying to decide whether to toss the Cephalocereus that I've had for so long. Maybe I'll try petzold's warm water drench. That was a new to me thing that I also read about on an african violet web page. It isn't the best time to be drenching the cactus, but it would be good to try that first. Maybe the calla as well. Thanks to everyone who weighed in with a reply. Barb
...See More
Need Help with Ant Control to Eliminate Scale, Mealybugs, etc.
Q
Comments (3)
The only way to eliminate scale is to treat for it - there is no natural control or predatory insect that will completely address the issue (although they can help). And the recommended method is with a horticultural oil applied at the appropriate timing of the life cycle of the scale organisms. Ants can be more easily deterred if you wrap the trunk in a sticky tape or something like Tanglefoot to keep them from climbing the tree. They are just after the honeydew or the sweet, sticky substance the scale excrete - if you control the scale you will also be controlling the ants.
...See More
Indestructable mealybugs? About to give up!
Q
Comments (18)
I've had promising results using Talstar with imidacloprid granules. Talstar is a contact insecticide, i.e., kills on contact. Talstar is used more in the commercial agricultural business and is avaiable online for reasonable cost. The active ingredient, but not as strong, is available in BBS as Bug B Gone. The granules provide three month systemic protection and deal with soil infestations. I add a surfactant to the Talstar. Avid looks like a great product used in limited situations, especially as a miticide and ow for whitefly, aphids and thrips; somewhat pricy. If you want to use an imidacloprid based product, Bayer Complete (Active ingredients: 0.36% β-cyfluthrin; 0.72% Imidacloprid) offers the most bang for your buck. It is usually sold as a premixed ready to use spray and as a concentrate.
...See More
bluebonsai101
12 years ago
Yep, I use the Bayer product. I use 2 Tablespoons/gallon and do a soil drench. This works on all plants, including Amaryllids, Clivia, Pachypodium, members of the Hyacinth family, etc., etc. It has not caused a problem for any type of plant I own and others use it on things like cacti without a problem at all. You just want to make sure that you use it 3 weeks in a row to make sure all stages have been killed. By the way, I use the other Bayer product you can only buy in a spray that deals with both insects and things in the mite family in the fall just before bringing them in for the winter and it solves all the spider mite problems I have had in the past :o) Dan
arbo_retum
Original Author
12 years ago
dan, i'm confused. your bayer soil drench does NOT work on clivia and amaryllis? i am trying to do a soil drench, not a spray, because the spray would take sooo much longer given all the 40 or so pots.
thx,
mindy
bluebonsai101
12 years ago
Hi Mindy, It works great on all of my Amaryllids.....sorry for any confusion caused :o) Dan
joshy46013
12 years ago
Dan,

Would you say the soil drench is better than the spray? I know the leaves and such absorb the spray but it would seem the roots would be better for this job?

Donna,

You use the pellets? Do you like them more or less than the spray? It seems like the effects would last longer considering it's released over time?

I use the spray and I'm not too sure how I feel about it... I mean it gets the job done and I don't have problems with bugs since I've used it but it seems one of those options would be better?

Josh
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
12 years ago
Josh,

I have over 100 pots so a spray would be out of the question..and would probably kill me or my DH in the process..not to say that pellets are more efficient, but most definitly easier to apply and even though there is an odor when they get wet at first..they are outside anyway.

It will be interesting to see this fall if I suspect any of my pots have the NBF in them..last year I lost over 10 of my large bulbs..but it wasn't until late in the summer that I noticed that the leaves on certain pots just look sickly..some pots such as my Giraffe had two mature bulbs in the same pot and luckily they only ate one bulb..never got to the second one and it is still fine..it's always something isn't it?

The next time we are scheduled to have a good rain, I think I will add a 1/2 tsp more of my Bayer product to protect against any critters that managed not to get cooked in the heat...I'm thinking that I'm not going to force dormancy this fall and pull them all our of their pots..I'm going to let them do what they wish.. as I wasn't all that happy with how they bloomed for me..I had many start to send up buds and they shriveled..so if I bring them in to the cellar maybe there won't be any critters hitching a ride...

Donna
bluebonsai101
12 years ago
Josh, for me it is the root mealies that are the worst so I go with the nuke them approach and do a soil drench. I know that Donna only has a few pots ;o), but since I have over 500 pots full of bulbs it is a time consuming process to do a soil drench, but I feel more sure about the results!! It allows me to inspect every plant also and lets face it most plant people love to do that sort of thing anyway! The spray to control any spider mites in the fall is the way to go.....just line everybody up and cut loose with the spray a couple of times (being careful of course). Since I have started doing this about 3 years ago I have never had a spider mite during the winter or an aphid and these used to be a HUGE problem inside. I kill them all just before bringing them inside and problem solved for the next 7 months :o) Dan
arbo_retum
Original Author
12 years ago
dan, what product do you use for a soil drench? mahoney's- my local large nursery- only has a Bonide soil drench specifically for outdoor plants.not sure that would work for indoor plants so that's why i'm asking you for your specific product name. thanks much,
mindy
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
12 years ago
NBF = Narcissus Bulb Fly

Mealybug Infestation- Please Advise

dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts

Comments (10)

joshy46013

Related Discussions

bluebonsai101

arbo_retum
Original Author

bluebonsai101

joshy46013

dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts

bluebonsai101

arbo_retum
Original Author

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Mealybug Infestation- Please Advise

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

arbo_retumOriginal Author

arbo_retumOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

arbo_retum
Original Author

arbo_retum
Original Author