We would all like to have plants that are always healthy, free of pests, but unfortunately there are some times of the year during which there are some parasites and insects that do not hesitate to feed on them. One of the most common is cottony mealybug, so called because, when touched, it reminds us quite of cotton. It is very, very 'soft', and also very fragile.
We can see it in any type of plant, but especially in one that is undergoing heat and / or water stress, that is, one that is experiencing heat and / or is thirsty or, on the contrary, has excess humidity. But, How to combat it?
These insects can cause a lot of damage to plants, which are already weak. We usually focus on eliminating the mealybug, but also it is very important to prevent it from reappearing. Let me explain: not only do we have to fight the insect, but it is also convenient to find out why it appeared and, once known, solve it. For example: if the plant is with very dry soil, what we will do is increase the frequency of watering; If, on the other hand, it is very humid, we will water less.
Making these changes is very important, otherwise the cottony bugs will most likely reappear. And in that case the life of the plant would be in -even more- serious danger.
How to fight the cottony mealybug
These insects can be eliminated in two ways: with chemical insecticides Chlorpyrifos, or with Natural medicine, for example:
- Moisten a swab of the ears with water and isopropyl alcohol.
- Plant a clove of garlic in the pot.
- Collect 100 grams of green nettle leaves and put them in water for a few weeks, until it ferments. Afterwards, it is applied with a sprayer.
- If they are few or if the plant is small, they can be removed by hand.
- Treat with paraffin oil.
As you can see, there are several ways to combat mealybugs. And you, how do you treat your plants when they have this pest?
8 comments, leave yours
I combat them using 1.25ml dimethoate diluted in 1L of water and spray the affected plant with an atomizer, it also charges all kinds of aphids and thrips, soap foam also works but the stain remains on the plant or garlic curing ( 1 head of garlic and 3 cigarettes in 1L of alcohol, it rests for 1 week) the affected plant is sprayed with that, kills aphids, mealybugs and drives away the ants that raise them as cattle and even smells rich XD
Good anti-mealybug remedies, no doubt 🙂. The last one I have not tried, but I will see how it goes.
Hello moni good morning
Hey excuse my ignorance, but I'm just learning… haha…., These remedies are applied directly to the leaves… ..or where they are applied… ..
Thank you very much for all your advice and have a good weekend
Regards,
Maria rivera
Hello Maria.
They are applied by spraying the leaves and stems.
Greetings, and also 🙂
Hello, I fight pests with tobacco water, in a liter of water I soak the tobacco from three cigarettes for three days, I drain it into a sprayer and apply it to my plants once a week, twice a week. week if they are very bad ...
Hello Georgia.
Yes, it is a very interesting insecticide. Thanks for your comment.
a greeting
Good morning, I have ball bugs in the house, I need to know how to eliminate them, I usually find them under the counter in the kitchen and near the washing machine in the bathroom; I moved in two months ago.
Outside I have almost no plants, I am just putting together the garden, and from what I saw, in the few plants that I have there are none.
Hi Moira.
Ball bugs are in principle not dangerous to plants.
A greeting.