So sad I lost my Semp Rubellum and almost all of Semp Kalinda..bad case of mealy bugs, I tried to help them just cannot make it.

Not sure if the last two remaining little Semp Kalindas will make it. Hoping our weather cool down will help, if not..time to start anew.

Sorry to hear that Tarev, I do think it is probably too warm for them where you live

Thanks Greg...finding a bright side to this..thankfully a separate container of semp freebies last year from Lynn is still doing okay. Grrr those mealies!

Tarev, I am so sorry to hear that some are not doing well, or have died. That is always discouraging.
The mealy bugs only attack them when they are stressed. Look to see what the difference is between placement and care in the different groups.
You also might try using ice cubes to water them. Do it at night.

It has been a real hard drought and heat this past summer. Oh, I did not know about ice cubes..really? But it does makes sense..they like being cool..I will try that next time.

I'm so sorry you lost your Semp rubella and Semp Kalinda . I had some mealy bugs come to me in a NOID last month, but thankfully it seems to have cleared up. I'm wondering if the Listerine spray I read about in this forum might discourage them. I know alcohol is good, but it's hard to get between the tight little leaves.

You might try dipping them in an alcohol/water mix before planting.

I did not know you could do that! Is it a 50-50 mix? Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, it is a 50/50 mix. Don't soak them, just dip them and set them to dry before planting. Set them in the shade to dry. Try it on a couple that are infested and see how it works.
I have never had mealy bug infestation on my semps, but have had aphids when the plants were weather stressed.

The aphids attack my milkweed here, seems to be their favorite so it spares my other plants thankfully and they will never cross my geranium plants too.

Thanks, Lynn. I'll give that a try.

Judith, just try it on two or three of the worst ones and see how they respond before treating them all. I also use a systemic, but only if they are not blooming, the systemic will kill the insects that are feeding on the nectar and pollen.

Systemic is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that. I think I have a granular form. None of my sempervivum are currently blooming.

I use one that I mix with water and drench the soil. It has worked very well.

Lynn, The systemic I have is called Di-Syston but it is real old (15 years???) . Do you know what your systemic is?

I have used Bonide and it worked very well. I used another one that was a liquid form, but I don't have the container and can't remember the name. I believe it was one used for roses.
And I wouldn't use it around any plants that you would be growing to eat.

Thanks for the systemic name. No, I wouldn't want to eat anything from a plant growing near a systemic application. But it never hurts to be reminded.

Let us all know how it does for you. I like to give the plants that are coming indoors a good dose of it before coming in for the winter. When I started doing that I never had a problem with those pesky gnats again.

So, Lynn you did find a systemic in liquid form from Bonide? I've only been able to find one in granular form. I prefer to use a liquid form that can be mixed with water as I think it more convenient given that dressing in some containers is an obstacle to the grains getting mixed with water. Or maybe I should mix the grains with water?...Nah, if that worked then Bonide would have done that or directed the consumer to do that, right?

No, not in Bonide. It was another brand, but I don't have the container anymore and don't remember the name.
The direction on the Bonide says that you should sprinkle it on the surface of the soil and mix thoroughly into the top layer of soil.
This is for the Bonide Systemic Houseplant formula.
http://bonide.com/lbonide/labe...