How to remove mealybugs from plants?
Wipe Them Off: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to directly touch and remove mealybugs from the plant. The alcohol will kill them on contact. Rinse the Plant: You can also rinse the plant with water to dislodge mealybugs, especially if the infestation is minor. An easy at-home remedy for mealybugs is using isopropyl (rubbing alcohol. Spray the mealybugs directly with the alcohol to kill them.Unfortunately for home gardeners, mealybugs are attracted to and infest tropical species of indoor houseplants as well. To avoid a potential mealybug invasion in your own home, make sure not to over-fertilize or overwater your plants –nitrogen levels that are too high attract these troublesome pests.Mealybugs may be found at rest or slowly crawling on the undersides of leaves, on stems in flowers or even on the outside of the pot. Cottony white wax is usually the first sign of their presence.Tip 1: Combat mealybugs with vinegar A natural way to combat the white, fluffy bugs is with vinegar. Make a solution of water and vinegar and gently apply it to the affected parts of the plant.
How to permanently get rid of mealybugs?
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. 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). You can kill mealybugs instantly by using isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Use one that contains no more than 70% alcohol and soak it in a cotton ball. From there, wipe the mealybugs off the impacted plant. This will instantly kill them.Mealybugs like lush foliage, so avoid over-fertilizing with excess nitrogen. A citrus mealybug nymph crawls along a leaf. If mealybugs are present on only a few, small plants, you can try to reduce or eliminate infestations by washing off the plants.
What time of year are mealybugs most active?
Mealybugs tend to be present continuously, but may be less active in relatively cool conditions. Their populations often reach peaks in spring and autumn and it is common to see all stages on a plant at the same time (e. Feeding on the root hairs results in yellowed leaves, wilting, stunting and bloom reduction. A few mealybug species will move to roots when growing conditions are less favorable, but return to stems and leaves when plants are actively growing.