Got my work cut out for me today. We’ve been having a two...
Got my work cut out for me today. We’ve been having a two week period of rain that has kept the greenhouse cool but encouraged MEALYBUGS! I’m thinking about not only isolating the two or three that are getting little spots, but treating everyone with alcohol as a deterrent. This is my first encounter with the little fuzzies and I’ll appreciate any advice you have. #HappyPlants #SucculentSquad #SucculentLove #TheWateringHole @debbiedo @DreamMachine @princesspitstop @MamaLinne
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Hooo boy, it’s tricky! Succulents don’t like neem, and I don’t use alcohol spray unless it’s a last resort. I wonder if @SuperbRaspfern has any thoughts?
Oh ugh 😩 @BEsucculent Got those critters here too!!! On a Hoya!😤 Hoyas are so resilient fortunately 😮💨. Not sure what to do with cacti other than dabbing at it with alcohol Q Tips. I’m with @MamaLinne that I wouldn’t spray it with alcohol. It strips the cactus of protective oils. Maybe the concoction that Nadia @DreamMachine has would work. Let’s see what others recommend 👍
@MariansOasis @MamaLinne @BEsucculent oh 💩 Sorry Barbara. It’s inevitable! I agree with the other two, alcohol strips the waxy cuticle away, and can make pests even harder to treat or make your plants more attractive to to pests next time, so I would only use that as a spot treatment.
When you do spot treat, make sure to wipe the area underneath where they were as well, because there might be eggs underneath them. They get into very small crevices, so they can be a pain in the rear end to treat.
I do not have a lot of experience with treating cacti/succulents. But a Castile soap spray is less harsh than alcohol and will kill on contact.
-1 Tablespoon Castile (I like dr bronners peppermint), mixed with
-4 cups (32oz) water in a spray bottle.
But this also makes me somewhat nervous unless you know your plants can dry out quickly. If it stays cool and rainy, that’s just a prime setup for rot 😖
So, use your best judgement, and proceed with caution! I’ll poke around and see if I can’t find a better way to treat them ❤️
When you do spot treat, make sure to wipe the area underneath where they were as well, because there might be eggs underneath them. They get into very small crevices, so they can be a pain in the rear end to treat.
I do not have a lot of experience with treating cacti/succulents. But a Castile soap spray is less harsh than alcohol and will kill on contact.
-1 Tablespoon Castile (I like dr bronners peppermint), mixed with
-4 cups (32oz) water in a spray bottle.
But this also makes me somewhat nervous unless you know your plants can dry out quickly. If it stays cool and rainy, that’s just a prime setup for rot 😖
So, use your best judgement, and proceed with caution! I’ll poke around and see if I can’t find a better way to treat them ❤️
@BEsucculent do you have any pollinators that have access to your plants? Systemics work, but they will contaminate any pollen or nectar, because they basically make your plants toxic from the inside out. They will kill off any pollinators if they can access them.
That being said, no judgement from me either way. For some people the pros outweigh the cons. Just want to give you all the info in case you didn’t catch that part. ❤️
That being said, no judgement from me either way. For some people the pros outweigh the cons. Just want to give you all the info in case you didn’t catch that part. ❤️
@DreamMachine thanks for that. No no pollinators in the greenhouse or in the house. I would use natural predators but I’m not sure I could keep them in the greenhouse. I think I’ll try this for the next two months and then assess. I’ve been getting more air circulation available yesterday and have shade cloth coming to regulate the temperature better. I do have that pesky Lizzie’s that’s been eating the juicy leaves. Perhaps he won’t like the taste of the bonide. I also saw a snail yesterday. I can always pick them off and send them to the backyard to play. I think I’ve got it pretty well under control (she said as her plants exploded).
@BEsucculent @debbiedo @MamaLinne @MariansOasis @princesspitstop just want to share with all of you this beneficial insect website. They offer free consultations for whichever kind of pest you’re dealing with and will help you get good bugs and try to keep your budget in mind. I’m using them right now to help me with my (hopefully) minor broadmite infestation. A lot safer than systemics, and can be somewhat cathartic as you watch other bugs destroy the pests (for me it will be under a microscope).
https://dmvbeneficials.com/
https://dmvbeneficials.com/
I want to warn you before using Bonide. If you use it and then happen to get Spider Mites the spider mites will take over and reproduce quicker because of the Bonide. NEVER use Bonide outdoors even in a greenhouse it can stay active in the soil for over a year.
I tried to respond to this post yesterday. I somehow lost it. Then was taking care of my very sick son and forgot to rewrite. I will give you a treatment below.
@DreamMachine @MamaLinne @debbiedo @MariansOasis @princesspitstop
I tried to respond to this post yesterday. I somehow lost it. Then was taking care of my very sick son and forgot to rewrite. I will give you a treatment below.
@DreamMachine @MamaLinne @debbiedo @MariansOasis @princesspitstop
@SuperbRaspfern thanks for the advice. I’m holding off doing anything right now. I think I’ve nipped the mealybugs for the time being. The solution won’t be easy or else there wouldn’t be any pests.
Here is something similar to what I wrote before.
Before treatment invest in a cover for your greenhouse. I prefer Burlap because it lets light go through. While also providing shade and air to penetrate.
A tarp or shade cloth will also work.
This is the most important factor Before treatment of greenhouse plants. They must be protected from the sun through treatment.
2 treatment options.
1. 1 Tablespoon Pure Neem oil + 4 cups of water mixed.
2. 2 Tablespoon Castile Soap (I use Bronners) + 4 cups of water.
Make a fresh batch for EVERY treatment. If it sits it loses effectiveness.
Because of a chemical process called hydrolysis, where water breaks down the active insecticidal compounds. This happens fast within 8-4 hours!!!
Treat every 3 days for 3 weeks. Do not miss a treatment or you must start again. Keep that greenhouse covered the entire 3 weeks. Then I would personally keep it cover for a week after to be safe. I don't want your plants burned and they will be fragile after treatment.
If you can add a fan so that the air circulation will help your plants dry out.
Because of the fact they are succulents and cacti. I lean towards the neem oil. I have used it on my own cacti and succulents and they were all fine.
That being said both will strip away the protective waxy coating (cuticle). Plants do regenerate it though in time. That's why you want to hit them hard and fast. You don't want to start stop treatment repeatedly.
Go to the dollar store and stock up on tampons if they get too wet stick them in the soil after treatment. You don't want constantly wet soil the cacti and succulents won't tolerate it.
I recommend taking a bucket and placing the cacti/ succulents on their sides for treatment that way the excess treatment drops off and away from the soil. The bucket is to catch the soil that will fall out so you can put it back in after treatment. If you have soil in the bucket treat it with the treatment as well. You can place it outside on cookie sheet of whatever you have on hand to dry in the sun.
The other option is to pull them out of the pots for treatment. Then they will never be in wet soil. They will get their moisture from the treatments.
@debbiedo @MamaLinne @DreamMachine @BEsucculent @MariansOasis @princesspitstop
Before treatment invest in a cover for your greenhouse. I prefer Burlap because it lets light go through. While also providing shade and air to penetrate.
A tarp or shade cloth will also work.
This is the most important factor Before treatment of greenhouse plants. They must be protected from the sun through treatment.
2 treatment options.
1. 1 Tablespoon Pure Neem oil + 4 cups of water mixed.
2. 2 Tablespoon Castile Soap (I use Bronners) + 4 cups of water.
Make a fresh batch for EVERY treatment. If it sits it loses effectiveness.
Because of a chemical process called hydrolysis, where water breaks down the active insecticidal compounds. This happens fast within 8-4 hours!!!
Treat every 3 days for 3 weeks. Do not miss a treatment or you must start again. Keep that greenhouse covered the entire 3 weeks. Then I would personally keep it cover for a week after to be safe. I don't want your plants burned and they will be fragile after treatment.
If you can add a fan so that the air circulation will help your plants dry out.
Because of the fact they are succulents and cacti. I lean towards the neem oil. I have used it on my own cacti and succulents and they were all fine.
That being said both will strip away the protective waxy coating (cuticle). Plants do regenerate it though in time. That's why you want to hit them hard and fast. You don't want to start stop treatment repeatedly.
Go to the dollar store and stock up on tampons if they get too wet stick them in the soil after treatment. You don't want constantly wet soil the cacti and succulents won't tolerate it.
I recommend taking a bucket and placing the cacti/ succulents on their sides for treatment that way the excess treatment drops off and away from the soil. The bucket is to catch the soil that will fall out so you can put it back in after treatment. If you have soil in the bucket treat it with the treatment as well. You can place it outside on cookie sheet of whatever you have on hand to dry in the sun.
The other option is to pull them out of the pots for treatment. Then they will never be in wet soil. They will get their moisture from the treatments.
@debbiedo @MamaLinne @DreamMachine @BEsucculent @MariansOasis @princesspitstop
@BEsucculent I know you got rid of them. My advice is to keep a very close eye out. Check them daily. They will very likely reemerge from some eggs you want to catch them early. Speaking from my own experience through the years they can be pesky.
If they reappear. 🤞Hopefully not. But it is likely save the above for future use. Then they will be gone for good. 🩷
If they reappear. 🤞Hopefully not. But it is likely save the above for future use. Then they will be gone for good. 🩷
@SuperbRaspfern
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear about your son 🥺 sending healing energy your way Shannon dear 🌬️ ✨🌈❤️🩹💗
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear about your son 🥺 sending healing energy your way Shannon dear 🌬️ ✨🌈❤️🩹💗
@DreamMachine It okay. My daughter had it first. Then within 12 hours I was sick. Then my hubby and last my son.
We caught Norovirus and it really SUCKED. My daughter and I both had to go to the hospital to get the vomiting under control. I spent 4 days in bed and am still low on strength. I've spent the past week disinfecting over and over again. You can get it right back!!! I'm just really hoping nobody gets it back. It was AWFUL!!! My son is on his last day of lockdown since it's highly contagious for 3 days after. Then for 2 weeks you shed the virus. Stay healthy everyone!!!! 🩷🩷🩷
We caught Norovirus and it really SUCKED. My daughter and I both had to go to the hospital to get the vomiting under control. I spent 4 days in bed and am still low on strength. I've spent the past week disinfecting over and over again. You can get it right back!!! I'm just really hoping nobody gets it back. It was AWFUL!!! My son is on his last day of lockdown since it's highly contagious for 3 days after. Then for 2 weeks you shed the virus. Stay healthy everyone!!!! 🩷🩷🩷
@SuperbRaspfern UGH, I am so familiar with that 😖😭😖 It’s the reason I ended up getting a steam cleaner last December. My husband got it twice in a row just like you were saying. How alarming to have to go to the hospital 😳 I hope you all recoup and get your strength and health back soon!! ♥️♥️♥️