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How do I get rid of mealy bugs?

I have mealy bugs on my potted kalanchoe, and they are killing it. I've tried spraying the plant with soapy water, but the plant takes more damage than the bugs do. I'm currently picking them off individually as I see them, but there are so friggin many of these suckers.

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Is the plant and pot too big to submerse in a bucket of

    water for a minute or so ? They probably have already

    laid a bunch of eggs. Check with a nursery. They have

    all manner of poisons. Spray cans and powders to mix

    in water with your own hand pump sprayer. Do a little

    research at the nursery and learn the lingo.

  • bugsie
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    The idea of submerging the plant in soapy water is really good.

    I use rubbing alcohol and a Q tip to kill them.

    I dab the Q tip in the alcohol and paint it on the mealy bug.

    I suppose you could put the strait alcohol in a mist bottle and spray it on the plant if the infestation is really bad.

    The thing about mealy bug is that they will come down off the plant and sleep under the lip of the pot or on a stake you are using to hold the plant. If the plant was on a table touching a window sill.

    The bug will crawl under the dark window sill to sleep. Then crawl out at the most inconvenient moment.

    To really eliminate mealy bug. Also wash the surrounding area where the plant lives.

    Think about this though, for the expense and the effort, maybe Just clean the living space and put a new plant there

  • Cheryl
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Use rubbing alcohol with a Q-tip and apply to all mealy bugs every few days until gone or apply Safer soap ulltra fine oil spray

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