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Reader's Questions - Mealybugs |
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Question: In my nursery there is
attack of mealy bugs and some of the ornamental plants have badly suffered
like hibiscus etc . What should be the proper solution for that?
Answer: Unfortunately, you have a real problem with no easy solution. If you want to go the chemical route, I have heard that both Diazinon and Malathion work but these are serious chemicals and I would be hesitant. If you do go that route, follow the directions to the letter. If your infestation is small, you might try using some regular isopropyl alcohol mixed 50/50 with water in a spray bottle, then using a cotton ball, old toothbrush, Q-tip, or something similar, remove any mealybugs you can find by hand and dispose of them in a strong plastic bag that can be sealed and discarded. You might want to add a teaspoon or so of dish detergent and even some horticultural oil to the spray bottle to help spread the solution into cracks and crevices. You will also have to repot every treated plant and discard the old soil - and you might have to do all this more than once - mealybugs are a very time-intensive problem to solve. You don't say how big the nursery is or how many plants are involved, but if it's a small infestation, your best bet may be to destroy the affected plants and start over, watching carefully and taking quick action if you spot any more after that. Good luck and I hope you find some measure of success without having to poison the whole neighborhood!
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