Grow-How® Tip: How To Spot and Treat Mealybugs

Unwelcome pests on indoor plants are likely at some point in every plant parent’s journey, but it’s easy to rid your plant of these pesky bugs just by following a few simple steps.

Mealybugs are one of the most common indoor plant pests. If the infestation is low, the damage is not severe. However, if allowed to flourish, they can cause leaf yellowing and curling as the plant weakens. The Grow-How® Team is here to help you learn how to spot and treat a Mealybug infestation. Read on to learn more. 

What Are Mealybugs?

Usually found in warmer growing climates, mealybugs are soft-bodied, wingless insects that often appear as white cottony masses on the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants. They will likely not kill your plant, but if an infestation is severe, they can cause leaf yellowing and curling as the can weaken your plant. The plant can become sticky due to the honeydew these pests secrete while sucking the juices of the plant, and this can encourage the growth of dirty molds. They are pretty common pests in the plant world. The good news is that there’s an effective treatment the Grow-How Team put together.

If you think you have mealybugs, don’t fret! They are easily treatable and you can get rid of these pesky insects in no time. 

How to Treat Mealybugs

Plants can be treated to get rid of a mealybug infestation. The Grow-How® Team has put together an effective treatment. Just follow the steps below to treat your plant for mealybugs:

Step 1: Spray the infested plant down with lukewarm water

 Immediately bring the infested plant to the sink or tub and spray with lukewarm water to help knock off a majority of the pests. Then thoroughly wash the leaves and stems with a soapy water solution (1 tsp of Dr. Bronner Mild Liquid Baby Soap per 1 liter of water) or use a store-bought insecticidal soap (always follow the directions on the bottle), and give the plant a good rinse. Keep in mind that soap can damage the plant, so it’s best to test it on a few leaves before spraying the entire plant.

Step 2: Disinfect with Rubbing Alcohol

Wash the area where the plant was sitting with soapy water, and then use a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to disinfect the area. If there are other plants nearby, inspect them thoroughly for any signs of bugs (after washing your hands).

Step 3: Spray with Neem Oil

Once everything has been cleaned and disinfected, spray the plant with neem oil and move it to a location far away from any other plants. Neem oil interrupts the growth and development of pest insects and acts as a repellent. Best of all, it’s non-toxic to honey bees and many other beneficial insects. Spray every 7-14 days, as needed. Keep in mind, neem oil can make your plant sensitive to sunlight. It’s best to treat at night to avoid any leaf burn.

Step 4: Check Your Plant Daily for a few weeks

Check the infested plant daily for any signs of mealybugs, and kill each one that you see using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Spray the plant with neem oil again after a week if you’re still killing mealybugs on it daily. Also, inspect any plants that were sitting near the infested plant every day to make sure there aren’t any bugs on those plants (being sure to wash your hands after touching each plant!). Keep in mind you will most likely need to use this treatment process several times, depending on the severity of the infestation. If there are no new mealybugs found after several weeks of inspecting the plant, you can add it back to your collection, but try to put it in a new spot just in case.

Need More Help?

When you purchase a plant from Bloomscape, you have access to free one-on-one expert advice from our Grow-How® Team throughout the life of the plant. If you still need help with your pest infestation or have another question about your plant, reach out to us — our team is here to help!