Hi @TheOddAsity! Okay, I’ll start with the good news whic...
Hi @TheOddAsity! Okay, I’ll start with the good news which is that the white stuff, I’m assuming mealybugs, have not made a resurgence! But, I’m struggling with the plants that have ticks like bugs on the underside of the leaves. They are so hard to reach because they are so small, I have not been able to remove them without damaging the leaves. I’ve been using your homemade insecticidal spray for over a week. I had leftover store bought insecticidal soap that I used for the weeks before that. And, I have not seen any improvements with my these brown colored bug situation. Here are some pictures. I also noticed that some leaves have gotten burnt(?). Some became dry and fell off. Idk what to do. Do you have any advise? #OrangeGrass
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@OrangeGrass i’m sorry I’ve been absent today! OK, a few things… neem oil can cause photosensitivity so make sure you are being careful after application to not put your plant in direct sunlight. I tend to apply the spray at night. Secondly, they’re definitely not mealie bugs. Greg doesn’t allow you to zoom in very close on some of these photos. But I’m guessing thrips from the placement. They like flat, thin, broad leaves like the ones in this photo. So if you can spray the plant with strong stream of water to dislodge what you can. Second, a mixture of Castile soap and water, 1 tsp to 1 cup and then, 2 tbsp isopropyl alcohol and spray—coats the bug and takes their protective layer off. If your plant can handle it, you can use a cotton pad or a lint free nail polish square and soak with 70% alcohol and wipe the leaves. You can dip a Q-tip in alcohol as well, and go after them individually. they don’t like strong smells so you can crush a garlic clove and leave it at the base of the plant and or surrounding plants so it doesn’t spread. One last way to remove the bugs is with a lint roller, but that’s your call. The leaves might not handle it. You can reduce the stickiness, by rolling it once over your shirt, or your pants.
@TheOddAsity no worries! I just wanted to ask someone experiencesd about this situation, and since you helped me the first time around, I thought I’d ask you again! So, I did make sure to spray neem oil at night. Idk why some leaves are turning crispy like that. The mealybugs were on the crown of thorns and zz I got. They don’t seem to have any bugs, but I don’t have a microscope or a magnifying glass. So, I’ve been scared to move them elsewhere. Idk what those bugs are on the pictures I showed you. They are SO small, and look flesh colored. I also realized after reading your response that I did not spray the solution every 2-3 days. Instead, I did every week. I just did not know what I was doing 😅 I still don’t know what I’m doing but hey I’m so glad I have you to ask for help! I’ll try all of the things you suggested besides the lint roller. Lint roller is way too big for the jasmines. Ty! I’ll keep you posted on how things go. Happy holidays 💗
@OrangeGrass once your plant is healthy, only use the spray every 7-10 days. Good luck!!
