- Remember where mealybugs usually appear
- The typical signs of the spread
- Avoid spreading
- Sometimes just picking it up is enough!
- Prepare your own home remedies with denatured alcohol or soap
- Ready-made ecological tools
- The affected plants should be temporarily separated from the others
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Mealybugs are a fairly common problem in the garden, but it's by no means something to worry about. They can be treated very successfully with the help of home remedies. But it would be even better if they were noticed in good time and prevented from spreading. Read our tips and act accordingly. We wish you every success!
Mealy lice are unpleasant, but not such a big drama
Remember where mealybugs usually appear
Virtually all types of plants can be affected by mealybugs. However, some of them are more common than others. Furthermore, it is important to know that these pests not only appear in the visible places, but also in the roots, among other things.
They vary in size - males are much smaller than females. Ornamental plants are often affected. Mealybugs are very fond of orchids and cacti.
This is what this pest looks like up close!
The typical signs of the spread
We could see these pests right away, but in some cases they are a bit more hidden. But there are also other signs that will clearly show you that you are now dealing with the mealybug problem. If these are present, you can see a lot of honeydew. Incidentally, this could result in another problem, namely the formation of soot mold fungi. They are often seen as a secondary symptom of mealybugs. Eventually, these pests leave smeary trails of white paint.
Males are much smaller than females
Avoid spreading
Once you've noticed where mealybugs actually appear, keep your eyes peeled. The point at which you notice the spread is very important. The sooner this happens, the less home remedies, time and effort you should invest in it. Be especially careful when inspecting newly purchased potted plants. This is usually the route by which mealybugs spread in your own garden.
Mealybugs spread faster
Sometimes just picking it up is enough!
This method works well if you have mealybugs on your plants at home and if they are not too many. In such a case, you could probably just hold them under the sun and remove the pests by hand. You absolutely need good gloves to protect yourself. Mealybugs must then be collected in a bag as a precaution and thrown away. You should have the right expectations when doing this. Mealybugs cannot be removed by one-time collection. You must repeat this action several times.
Cacti and succulents are particularly badly affected
Prepare your own home remedies with denatured alcohol or soap
Mixtures like this are easy to make and don't take that much time. You can dissolve denatured alcohol in a liter of water and that would be enough for the effective counteraction. The same applies to the soft soap. Here we would also recommend the ratio of one to ten.
The affected plants should ideally remain under "quarantine" for a while
Ready-made ecological tools
Mealybugs are by no means a stubborn problem and you don't need any chemicals. At least not if the dimensions are really not devastating. But only a few people have this problem. Let's hope that's not the case for you! As soon as everything stays within reasonable limits, opt for sustainable products against pests that contain the active ingredient pyrethrum.
Mealybugs can sometimes be found in large groups on the roots
The affected plants should be temporarily separated from the others
After you have treated the plant, it will take some time before the mealybugs are completely gone. In the meantime, they might skip to other plants. It makes perfect sense to temporarily separate them from the other plants. If they are in a pot, set them aside. Otherwise, you can wrap them in plastic wrap and separate them from the others.
In any case, this problem can be solved quite easily and you mustn't despair at all. We wish you a wonderful summer garden!
If the plants are not too many, the mealybugs can simply be picked up become
These pests leave a lot of slimy trails
You should rarely use strong chemicals against mealybugs
Honeydew is a typical sign of the presence of mealybugs
Mealybugs could sometimes form huge groups
Get rid of the pests and enjoy your time in your garden!
