I found some mealy bugs on some paphiopedilums, but none of my other orchids. I couldn't get close to the mealy bugs with a cotton swab, so I ended up getting some inexpensive watercolour brushes from the dollar store that came to nice fine points. Those enabled me to get into where the mealy bugs where hiding and zap them. I didn't repot since I could only find one mealy bug at a time, and haven't seen any in months.
Thank you for this video. Seeing the mealy bugs in real time was very informative. I have never seen them other than in pictures. I watch a lot of different orchid channels, and have never seen a better pest video. Your closeups were great on this time.
A friend brought me home some succulents when she returned from traveling two summers ago. She bought the succulents when she was in a southern state. The plants looked fantastic. After I had the new plants for six months and they still looked fine, I decided to make a few different arrangements with all of my succulents. So most of my succulents were exposed to those newer succulents. A few months after I put together the arrangements I began noticing white things on those plants. Soon I realized that they were mealy bugs. I had never had to deal with bugs before and I have been growing many different types of plants for years. I tried alcohol, I tried washing the plants and repotting. I tried different types of insecticide. There were some plants that the mealy bug seemed to like better than others. They loved certain succulents better than others. They liked certain tropical plants better than others. I can tell you that if you have had mealy bugs in your home for a few weeks you are in serious trouble. The systemic insecticide works on some plants but not well at all on succulents. It can take quite a while for the poison to go through the thicker plants than a more delicate tropical plant. Thankfully, my orchids have not been affected. However, even after treating, cleaning, and repotting in new soil I ended up having to throw away several plants. Those vile bugs do lay hundreds of eggs and once they hatch you cannot see those microscopic worms for a couple of weeks. They get into the edges of the leaves where the leaf attaches to the stem and chew to their vile heart’s content. If you have one or two mealy bugs on your plant you may be able to pick them off and be fine but if a female has already laid eggs on it or near that plant you can forget it. That plant and any nearby plants are infested. Get rid of infested plants. You are more likely to spread the infestation than to save that plant. It is a war that humans rarely win.
I found the mealy bugs tend to go after the weaker plants. I am trying to increase the frequency that I use a calcium magnesium supplement. This should increase the strength of the plants overall and mealy bugs should stay away from those healthier plants. It is a theory that I will be testing and watching my plants very closely as I move some outdoors for the summer months. Fingers crossed!
I would try to return one that was infested and I wouldn't even bother with repotting. Blue flowers are pretty rare though so I guess it would be worth saving. I think ladybugs are supposed to eat mealybugs.
Thanks for you share my friend
Very good repotting video. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Your channel deserves more subscribers! 😊
I 100% agree. Please share and maybe that will help
I found some mealy bugs on some paphiopedilums, but none of my other orchids. I couldn't get close to the mealy bugs with a cotton swab, so I ended up getting some inexpensive watercolour brushes from the dollar store that came to nice fine points. Those enabled me to get into where the mealy bugs where hiding and zap them. I didn't repot since I could only find one mealy bug at a time, and haven't seen any in months.
I have used small paint brushes as well. So glad you were able to get them under control and have not seen any in months.
Thank you for this video. Seeing the mealy bugs in real time was very informative. I have never seen them other than in pictures. I watch a lot of different orchid channels, and have never seen a better pest video. Your closeups were great on this time.
Thank you for your kind words. I used a new lense on my camera to get those closeups.
A friend brought me home some succulents when she returned from traveling two summers ago. She bought the succulents when she was in a southern state. The plants looked fantastic. After I had the new plants for six months and they still looked fine, I decided to make a few different arrangements with all of my succulents. So most of my succulents were exposed to those newer succulents. A few months after I put together the arrangements I began noticing white things on those plants. Soon I realized that they were mealy bugs. I had never had to deal with bugs before and I have been growing many different types of plants for years. I tried alcohol, I tried washing the plants and repotting. I tried different types of insecticide. There were some plants that the mealy bug seemed to like better than others. They loved certain succulents better than others. They liked certain tropical plants better than others.
I can tell you that if you have had mealy bugs in your home for a few weeks you are in serious trouble. The systemic insecticide works on some plants but not well at all on succulents. It can take quite a while for the poison to go through the thicker plants than a more delicate tropical plant. Thankfully, my orchids have not been affected. However, even after treating, cleaning, and repotting in new soil I ended up having to throw away several plants. Those vile bugs do lay hundreds of eggs and once they hatch you cannot see those microscopic worms for a couple of weeks. They get into the edges of the leaves where the leaf attaches to the stem and chew to their vile heart’s content.
If you have one or two mealy bugs on your plant you may be able to pick them off and be fine but if a female has already laid eggs on it or near that plant you can forget it. That plant and any nearby plants are infested. Get rid of infested plants. You are more likely to spread the infestation than to save that plant. It is a war that humans rarely win.
I found the mealy bugs tend to go after the weaker plants. I am trying to increase the frequency that I use a calcium magnesium supplement. This should increase the strength of the plants overall and mealy bugs should stay away from those healthier plants. It is a theory that I will be testing and watching my plants very closely as I move some outdoors for the summer months. Fingers crossed!
Maybe you can update us on the growth of this plant
Of course I will do that.
I would try to return one that was infested and I wouldn't even bother with repotting.
Blue flowers are pretty rare though so I guess it would be worth saving.
I think ladybugs are supposed to eat mealybugs.
Unfortunately can't return to vendor and would not be able to have ladybugs in my home grow space.
@@ForeverOrchids Actually ladybugs eat aphids. I got the two confused.