Plant Care Tips 04.04.19
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs: White Powder Pests on My Houseplants
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs: White Powder Pests on My Houseplants
Have you been looking at your plants, whether that’s admiring them from a distance or watering them up close, and noticed that they’re covered in bugs? Don’t worry yourself; you’re doing great as a plant parent. In most cases, bugs are fine and perfectly natural, that is unless, of course, they’re mealybugs.
1
What are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs is the name given to a type of tiny bugs that loves to infest houseplants. If you take a look at your plants now, do you notice a white powder anywhere, perhaps looking a little bit like fungus?
If so, you might have just found a mealybug colony. If you want to check for them specifically, try focusing on the protected areas of your plants, such as branch joints or underneath leaves.
2
Are Mealybugs Dangerous?
To humans; no. Mealybugs are harmless.
However, to your plant children, mealybugs can be fatal. This is because mealybugs suck the life out of your plant, in the form of nutrients and vitamins, which leaves nothing left for your plant.
Over time, you’ll notice the leaves of your plant going yellow. If you leave the mealybug infestation untreated, your plant will eventually die.
3
What Can I Do About Them?
The question on everyone’s lips. Fortunately, mealybugs are easy to get rid of if you know how.
Firstly, wipe away all the colonies and white powder from everywhere on your plant. Make sure you check it over thoroughly, so you don’t miss any.
Get yourself a pesticide and spray it all over your plant to kill any mealybugs that are still there. Follow the instructions on the bottle, making sure you read them correctly.
Repeat process every day for 9 days and your plant should have fully recovered.
Happy, healthy plants = happy, healthy you!
