On 14 Dec 2004 12:43:57 GMT, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:

(a) only a few get blasted off the plant altogether and (b) you
want to ensure that they don't just climb back on. The objective
is to blast their waxy 'fur' off so they dessicate, and soft soap
solution (or detergent solution with a squirt of meths) works a
lot better than plain water.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


I see. Thanks very much Nick.

Eric

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 07:13:52 +0100, "JennyC" wrote:

I find methelated spirits works really well. The usual way is to apply it to the
infected areas with a paintbrush, but I have found what misting the whole plant
works a lot better. It gets into all the nooks and crannies.......I use a hand
pump-up spray.

Take the plant outside or somewhere that you can ventilate well 'cos it stinks
to high heaven !

You might need to do this once or twice to get them all.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny. I am going to try your approach first and hope it
will do the trick (hand pump spray).
I've read here that if the bugs are in the root however, they will
come back. I guess I'll have to try it and see what happens.

Eric

"Eric G" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 07:13:52 +0100, "JennyC" wrote:

I find methelated spirits works really well. The usual way is to apply it to
the
infected areas with a paintbrush, but I have found what misting the whole
plant
works a lot better. It gets into all the nooks and crannies.......I use a
hand
pump-up spray.

Take the plant outside or somewhere that you can ventilate well 'cos it
stinks
to high heaven ! You might need to do this once or twice to get them all.
Jenny

Thanks Jenny. I am going to try your approach first and hope it
will do the trick (hand pump spray).
I've read here that if the bugs are in the root however, they will
come back. I guess I'll have to try it and see what happens.
Eric

Depending on what plant is infested, you could always try taking it out of it's
pot and rinsing off ALL the soil before repotiing in fresh compost.

I just looked at you original posting, and see it's houseplants. Might be a good
idea to do some root washing next spring :~)

Jenny

"Eric G" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 07:13:52 +0100, "JennyC"
wrote:

I find methelated spirits works really well. The usual way is to
apply it to the
infected areas with a paintbrush, but I have found what misting the
whole plant
works a lot better. It gets into all the nooks and crannies.......I
use a hand
pump-up spray.

Take the plant outside or somewhere that you can ventilate well
'cos it stinks
to high heaven !

You might need to do this once or twice to get them all.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny. I am going to try your approach first and hope it
will do the trick (hand pump spray).
I've read here that if the bugs are in the root however, they will
come back. I guess I'll have to try it and see what happens.

That's why a systemic insecticide is a useful backup.

--
ned

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk
last update 13.12.2004

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:21:01 -0000, "ned" wrote:

That's why a systemic insecticide is a useful backup.


Thanks very much Jenny and Ned!

Eric

I have been out of action for a few week and so have not time to follow all
of the correspondence. Forgive me if I repeat anything already discussed.
I have had a lot of trouble with mealy bugs on house plants-NOT WOOLLY
APHIDS.
My understanding from questions answered on Gardiners Question Time and
conversations with a nurseryman in Cheshire is that they have become
reistant to common insecticides including systemics. Malathion is a weapon
of last resort but not attractive.
Recommendation is that you paint them with a camel hair brush dipped in
methylated spirits or surgical spirit and persist for a week until they
disappear.
This technique is laborious but has worked for infestations on Christmas and
other cacti, rubber plant etc.It did not work on African violets which I
saved by taking leave cuttings, cleaned up with isopropanol (CD or tape
cleaner).
In the limit it will depend on the source of mealy bug and how careful
propagators nurserymen have been on their application of insecticides.
regards
david T.
"Eric G" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:21:01 -0000, "ned" wrote:

That's why a systemic insecticide is a useful backup.


Thanks very much Jenny and Ned!

Eric

david taylor wrote:
I have been out of action for a few week and so have not time to follow all
of the correspondence. Forgive me if I repeat anything already discussed.
I have had a lot of trouble with mealy bugs on house plants-NOT WOOLLY
APHIDS.

Though a treatment for one will also work on the other. Problem with
woolly aphid is on fruit trees you really don't want to use a systemic.
And on a big tree you never get every last colony (and I remain
convinced on circumstantial evidence that ants farm and overwinter them).

My understanding from questions answered on Gardiners Question Time and
conversations with a nurseryman in Cheshire is that they have become
reistant to common insecticides including systemics. Malathion is a weapon
of last resort but not attractive.

Malathion is so old and overused that most nursery plant pests are
already immune to it. Several other systemics licenced for house plants
will work OK. Never rely on a single pesticide. Alternating between a
knock down or physical soft soap and a systemic is most effective.

Regards,
Martin Brown

Recommendation is that you paint them with a camel hair brush dipped in
methylated spirits or surgical spirit and persist for a week until they
disappear.

"Eric G" wrote in message
...

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:21:01 -0000, "ned" wrote:


That's why a systemic insecticide is a useful backup.


Thanks very much Jenny and Ned!

Eric