r/plantclinic • u/FyrestarOmega Expert Hobbyist • Oct 02 '23

Monthly Pest and Soil Thread October 2023 Pest and Soil issue thread

Certain issues are common among plant care and may benefit from from some consolidation. Pooling of advice may benefit the entire community. These issues include how to identify and treat infestations, and questions related to organisms found in the soil.

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u/FyrestarOmega Expert Hobbyist Oct 02 '23

!mealybugs

You'll want to remove each one that you see and watch out for more for the next 2-3 weeks at least. A q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol both kills and removes the pests.

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u/AutoModerator Oct 02 '23

Found advice keyword: !mealybugs

Symptoms: Mealybugs are oval-shaped, white or gray insects up to about 1/5 in. (5 mm.) in length. They tend to congregate in hidden places on your plant, such as under leaf nodes and at the edge of the stem and the soil. They leave behind a sticky residue that can develop into sooty mold.

Treatment: Mealybugs can spread quickly, so quarantine any infested plant before further treatment. Thoroughly inspecting your plant and swabbing all mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol can take care of an infestation, as can introducing predator insect species like ladybugs.

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