North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Brungardt, Sam" <Sam.Brungardt@state.mn.us>]

Title: Message

Thanks for the advice, Stephen.  I think I begin to increase because the plants are under some stress -- they have just endured the shortest photoperiod of the year with reduced light levels.  Most certainly, mealy bugs are more likely to be a problem on plants that are not in top health.  Perhaps removing all the soil from the roots and repotting them in fresh potting medium might be best.  I'll check also, I think I have some pyrethrin in my chemical locker. -- Sam 

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Sadler
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 4:20 PM
To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] mealy bug problem

The same fish/sesame oil stuff I mentioned for citrus scale would work, but might be smelly for a greenhouse.  It’s called Organocide.  For a small-scale problem, you could use a blend of pyrethrin and insecticidal soap.  You could mix that yourself, or buy Safer’s Houseplant Insect Killer, which is fairly inexpensive.   There is a mealybug predator you could introduce, if you want Orion beetles patrolling the sunroom.  Or you could release the beasts outdoors, and let them control the mealybugs during the warmer seasons, so by the time you bring in your plants they would be pretty mealybug-free.  This could be a long-term solution, and is easy – but it’s the most costly – expect about $80, more than 10 times the premixed Safer spray. 

 

I wonder why they’re spreading?  Have you changed soil mixtures?  Are the plants otherwise happy and healthy? 

 

I would lean toward the pyrethrin/soap mix, and see what you can do outdoors to attract predatory insects; also check the soil in your pots for mineral build-up or nutrient presence and availability.  Maybe some things want repotting, with some slow-release organic fertilizer added.

 

~ Stephen

 

From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Brungardt, Sam
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 2:02 PM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: [NAFEX] mealy bug problem

 

Every year about this time I find mealy bugs have infested some of the plants that I overwinter in our sunroom.  Often these are plants on which I've never seen these pesky critters before.  Right now I have some on rosemary, amaryllis and stephanotis.  I have always been fearful that the mealy bugs will infest more of my plants and my standard weapon was banishing the plant to the outdoors (which with our below-zero temps at this time of the year does a satisfying job on the bugs but I lose the plant as well).

 

This year I'm trying to control the mealy bugs with rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip.  I swab every above-ground portion of the plant with alcohol, but control is temporary at best.  I sure would appreciate some ideas for dealing with mealy bugs.  I really hate to keep throwing away plants, but that might be my only alternative.  Thanks in advance for your advice. -- Sam Brungardt, St. Paul, Minn.