Finding mealybugs on houseplants is a common problem for houseplant owners Mealybugs are prevalent outdoors in warmer climates but, are highly adaptable to indoor environments Mealybugs thrive in the constant warmth and humidity of commercial greenhouses

Mealybugs look like little beetles that got caught in a blizzard They live under a fuzzy looking protective white or grey coating That white fuzzy coating is actually wax They are very small bugs

Like other sucking pests mealies are small and easy to miss, and they populate by the hundreds in each generation You will need to treat for mealybugs at least weekly for two months after you initially eradicate them

You must hunt the mealy bugs down and destroy them This means you closely examine your plants with a magnifying glass Manually remove the bugs and crush them You can use a cloth immersed in neem oil and water to clean the bugs off your plant

Prune off the damaged leaves, flowers and stems of the affected plant Spray the plant stem and top and bottom of the leaves with the neem oil spray, getting the spray into all the nooks and crannies of your plant The plant needs to be isolated and pest free for 1 month

70 % Rubbing Alcohol Dip a Q tip in the rubbing alcohol and directly apply it to the mealybugs in all life stages Be sure to follow this up with a spray if you really want to get rid of mealybugs

Diatomaceous Earth This is like ground glass to most bugs that come in contact with it You can mix this as a powder into the top layer of your soil Pour this drench into the soul of your plant and it will weaken eventually kill off mealybugs and fungus gnat larvae both

To dispose of a plant that is too far gone Seal the whole plant in an airtight garbage bag Throw it into the garbage outside Do not throw a plant live with pests into your compost pile or anywhere they can continue their life cycle Sterilize everything fully afterwards

Visit our blog for more plant care guides

Click the link to read more about How to Get Rid of Mealybugs