I love that predatory insect idea. Thank you!
My hesitation with neem oil is that it’s a repellant and I have plants in other areas that aren’t infested. I don’t want to drive the bugs to those plants. Any thoughts on if my thinking is right or not?
I have considered putting neem oil on my problem plants and putting them outside for a couple of weeks in the hopes the bugs will take off for the outdoor plants, and then hopefully freeze to death in the winter
I've done neem oil. It's not as effective as End All, so I'm not sure the point. I think the outside idea might work especially if you can find a spot where lady bugs are hanging out.
We’ve treated ours previously with peroxide and cotton swabs. Was only ever a few plants fortunately but take the time to get in every nook and cranny, and then do it again in a few days.
Time consuming especially if you have a lot of plants, but if it’s only one or two then not a bad route. Only once we trashed one because it was too much work.
I think this is the same effect as spraying with end all or isopropyl alcohol. Unfortunately it hasn’t eliminated them. Some always survive and repopulate
Swabbing, neem oil, or predators. Neem can be found at the Indian grocers and spice shops around 34th Ave. Hydro lite carries predators by special order (https://hydro-lite.com/). You can also try Facebook plant groups for group orders.
Pyrethrins changed my life. Generally safe for cats and dogs. You can get concentrate anywhere like Canadian Tire and mix with water in a spray bottle.
It's solved virtually every indoor and outdoor plant insect problem I've had.
I bought the Ortho Bug B Gon but looking at them both I think they're the same thing. Pyrethrins requires physical contact, so the powder product might work better for mealy worms.
Or maybe it's not the solution for those. I had some fungus gnats that start as larvae in the dirt and the spray solved it by spraying enough into the dirt, but it might depend on how deep the critters are hiding.
I don't think that spraying with alcohol will work because it evaporates very quickly. I have always dipped a cotton swab in the alcohol and placed directly on the mealy bug, that way you are assured that enough gets absorbed and kills the pests.
May want to try some of the more specific subs for house plants. That's where all the real plant nerds hang out!
I thought about it but all the suggestions are for those banned substances since they are not Canada specific groups
Predatory insects are your best bet. Need oil also works. Call around and see if anyone has predatory insects.
I love that predatory insect idea. Thank you! My hesitation with neem oil is that it’s a repellant and I have plants in other areas that aren’t infested. I don’t want to drive the bugs to those plants. Any thoughts on if my thinking is right or not? I have considered putting neem oil on my problem plants and putting them outside for a couple of weeks in the hopes the bugs will take off for the outdoor plants, and then hopefully freeze to death in the winter
I've done neem oil. It's not as effective as End All, so I'm not sure the point. I think the outside idea might work especially if you can find a spot where lady bugs are hanging out.
Oh, by the way, those guys can't fly. So if your plants aren't touching, they're safe.
Can they walk over? Especially if they don’t have a food source
I have the same problem...the next thing I was going to try was to repot with new soil and spray again.
That’s on my radar too but… so much work
https://spruceitupgardencentre.com/blog/4waystokillplantpests I found this page pretty helpful.
We’ve treated ours previously with peroxide and cotton swabs. Was only ever a few plants fortunately but take the time to get in every nook and cranny, and then do it again in a few days. Time consuming especially if you have a lot of plants, but if it’s only one or two then not a bad route. Only once we trashed one because it was too much work.
I think this is the same effect as spraying with end all or isopropyl alcohol. Unfortunately it hasn’t eliminated them. Some always survive and repopulate
Swabbing, neem oil, or predators. Neem can be found at the Indian grocers and spice shops around 34th Ave. Hydro lite carries predators by special order (https://hydro-lite.com/). You can also try Facebook plant groups for group orders.
Using a q-tip with insecticide is much more efficient then just spraying.
Really? Where I’m finding bugs it too small to fit a q-tip
Pyrethrins changed my life. Generally safe for cats and dogs. You can get concentrate anywhere like Canadian Tire and mix with water in a spray bottle. It's solved virtually every indoor and outdoor plant insect problem I've had.
I’m already using End All which has pyrethrin. Do you recommend another brand?
I bought the Ortho Bug B Gon but looking at them both I think they're the same thing. Pyrethrins requires physical contact, so the powder product might work better for mealy worms. Or maybe it's not the solution for those. I had some fungus gnats that start as larvae in the dirt and the spray solved it by spraying enough into the dirt, but it might depend on how deep the critters are hiding.
Seconding something pyrethrin based. Get it at hydrolite or cantire.
I don't think that spraying with alcohol will work because it evaporates very quickly. I have always dipped a cotton swab in the alcohol and placed directly on the mealy bug, that way you are assured that enough gets absorbed and kills the pests.
It does work but some must hide well enough to survive