🤢 What are these???
My sister got this Bonsai for Mother's Day and just texted me these pictures. They didn't look like Mealybugs to me and wanted to check with you guys to find out what they are and the best way to eradicate. 😭 @stephonicle @DreamMachine Thanks guys 💔 #bonsai #plantsmakepeoplehappy #happyplants #notsohappyplants
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Best Answer
@princesspitstop I had a really bad aphid infestation on an azalea bonsai and did pretty much the same treatment. After a couple of days, I'd remove the decorative moss and quarantine it separately. If it stays pest-free, you can always put it back later.
Using a soft toothbrush, gently brush away any dead aphids and clean the leaves, branches, and stems. I like to cover the soil with damp paper towels while doing this to catch any debris. Then keep a close eye on the plant for the next couple of weeks in case any survivors show up.
Since she used alcohol and soap, I'd also flush the soil once or twice with plain water. Keep the plant in bright indirect light with good airflow while it recovers.
Using a soft toothbrush, gently brush away any dead aphids and clean the leaves, branches, and stems. I like to cover the soil with damp paper towels while doing this to catch any debris. Then keep a close eye on the plant for the next couple of weeks in case any survivors show up.
Since she used alcohol and soap, I'd also flush the soil once or twice with plain water. Keep the plant in bright indirect light with good airflow while it recovers.
@stephonicle Yes ma'am definitely Aphids. Here's a close up. That decorative moss in the pot was covered in them. So far it has been quarantined, sprayed down with water then soaked with 70% isopropyl alcohol followed by a dish soap water mixture. 😭 It's horrible I feel so bad for her.
@princesspitstop @GemNeslia83 is the bonsai outside? You can also give it the water cannon treatment with a strong spray of water from the hose to get a lot of them off. That’s a lot of aphids! I would be overwhelmed and buy Lacewing larvae or ladybug larvae—they will eat them up as a feast no problem, if your sister has them accessible to her! Not everyone does though. 😔
@FamedGymealily Thanks Kristopher. I appreciate all the info. Unfortunately you had to learn through experience. I'll forward the information to her. At least she'll have hope knowing that someone came through the other side. 🙂
@Malagueña The bonsai is a Fukein Tea which normally has the white dots on the leaves. Those are actually pores. The other little guys are definitely Aphids. 😞 We've got her on a regimen of isopropyl alcohol and dish soap/water mixture. The infestation is mostly gone. She is now checking every day and doing spot treatment with a qtip and alcohol. They are such a pain to deal with. 😢
@Malagueña Thanks Bob ☺️ it actually belongs to my sister. I'm pretty sure at this point she wishes it belonged to me lol