- Hide menu

Mealybugs | Plant Pests

LoadingFavoriteAdd to favorites

Oh, good ol’ mealybugs… a houseplant’s nemesis! When I first got into houseplants, I was very lucky, until I was no longer lucky. It’s easy to get cocky and think that your house and your plants are safe from such critters… but they’re not. Sorry. I am not here to sugarcoat things. Mealybugs are just par for the course.

Did you know that mealybugs are part of the scale family that lives on the stems, undersides of leaves, and on the nodes of houseplants? They appear white and cottony. Houseplants are especially vulnerable because year-round mild temperatures favor mealybug populations, and indoor plants are usually not exposed to the natural enemies that often keep mealybugs under control outdoors.

The key to having pest-free plants is to take care of them from the get-go. Inspect and clean them on a regular basis. You will then have the upper hand over a possible pest infection! Truth be told, getting rid of mealybugs on houseplants can be tough, but it’s not impossible! The best line of defense is being proactive, just like we ought to be with our health. If you ignore your plants, if you ignore your health… don’t be alarmed when and if disease sets in. Okay, let’s chat about what to look for and what to do about it should a mealybug come for a visit.

Appearance

Damage

Detection

Solution and Maintenance

The plant is a pothos, but these can attack other plants.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *