to whom it may concern,

I have a plant as per the attached photos. It is placed in a corridor near a window. Recently I have noticed that this plant has a bug. Is there any solution for this to do please?

regards

Chris
Malta, Europe

Hi Barbara86,
Those white bugs on your plant are mealybugs: http://www.planetnatural.com/p... You can dip a cotton swab/q-tip in Isopropyl/Rubbing Alcohol and dab them off. Be sure to get those on the under sides of the leaves and all the nooks and crannies. Another solution is an insecticidal soap that can be purchased at local garden centers. I buy one called Garden Safe that works well but for a few mealybugs, the alcohol takes care of it.

Hi Barbara - Your plant has a pretty bad infestation of mealybugs. They can be eradicated successfully with a solution of 5 parts water, 1 part isopropyl alcohol and a squirt of liquid dish soap mixed in a spray bottle.

The key to success is spraying ALL leaf and stem surfaces until they are DRIPPING wet. If you miss just a few that survive between the spray droplets, they will reproduce and come back to haunt you. That is why the q-tip application method is ineffective.

But you have another problem and that is the textured pole that you have your plant is attached to. I am sure there are mealybugs on this material as well. So you will have to find a way to soak the pole with the same solution.

Good luck!