Mealybugs are tiny white bugs on houseplants, and most commonly look like white fuzzy stuff on plants leaves and stems. If the white bugs you see on your houseplants look more like tiny white flies that fly around when the plant is disturbed, then those are whiteflies instead of mealybugs.

Use vinegar. Vinegar is a proven method for destroying mold and eliminating pesky white spots from your plants. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a quart of water, and spray onto your infected leaves and stems. Repeat every few days until all traces of mold are gone.

Powdery mildew on houseplants is a fungal disease. Initially, it produces circular powdery white spots on the foliage of plants. It occurs when there is poor air circulation, low light, and unlike outdoor powdery mildew, thrives in drier conditions. …

MEALYBUGS TREATMENT

1. Dip cotton balls and swabs in alcohol and remove all visible mealybugs.
2. Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with few drops of Dawn dish soap and 1 quart (32oz) of water.
3. Spray the whole plant, not only where mealybugs are visible.
4. Repeat the treatment once or twice a week until the issue is gone.

Getting rid of mealybugs can be tough, but not impossible. Homemade dish soap spray – Soap will suffocate mealybugs. Combine 1 tablespoon of dish soap with a quart of water and spray down your plant. Test the spray on one leaf before applying to the rest, and repeat every few days as needed.

Applying Alcohol The alcohol should dissolve the mealybugs’ and eggs’ protective coating and kill both the bugs and eggs. Such selective treatment is less likely than a spray to damage a plant’s leaves if you take care to apply most of the alcohol to the mealybugs and their eggs rather than the leaves.

If you notice mealybugs on the roots and leaves/stems, then dunk the whole plant. The hydrogen peroxide will kill the mealybugs and eggs. But remember to avoid doing this too often. It can kill sensitive plants, so do your research first.

The only good ways to prevent mealybug from occurring is to avoid putting your plants outside during the summer and make sure to thoroughly inspect any new plant babes, pots or tools you’re bringing home before bringing them inside.

Citrus Mealybugs. Winter approaches, and with the onset of cooler temperatures, we can finally forget about insect pests until next year. Right? Time for the bugs to either die from the cold, or find some protected retreat until Spring.

Mealybugs in Soil Because they live deep in the soil and feed on roots, these mealybugs may not be visible at first glance, but they eventually cause the health of the plant to dwindle, says the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.

Mealybugs start out as eggs and then move into larval and adult stages. Females lay up to 500 eggs in a cottony egg sac attached to plants, fruit, bark or twigs. After about 10 days, the egg sac hatches and the babies quickly spread out over the plant looking for feeding sites.

Mealybugs are related to scale insects. They cause damage by sucking the juice from their host plants, and like many pests, mealybugs tend to favor new growth. Over time, their damage causes the leaves to yellow and eventually drop from the plant.

Most species do not survive the winter. They need warmer temperatures which is why they are such a pest year round indoors on houseplants or in greenhouses. Mealybugs don’t move far on their own. Most infections are the result of new plants which are infested with them being brought into your garden or your home.

Mealybugs on plants look like small white bugs or they may appear as white fuzzy stuff on plant leaves and stems. A mealybug infestation will cause leaves to lose color and wilt. You can identify a mealybug houseplant infestation by their cotton-like residue they leave on plant leaves and stems.

The citrus mealybug is more common on tropical foliage plants or soft-stemmed, succulent plants such as coleus, fuchsia, and cactus. Long-tailed mealybugs prefer dracaena over other species.

Reproduction Patterns of Mealybugs The female mealybug deposits her eggs in a cotton-like pouch and they hatch in a little over a week. The hatchlings are known as “crawlers” because they crawl to a spot where they can feed and continue to mature. They will develop into adults in about 1-2 months.