What it looks like
White cottony clumps in leaf joints and on stems. A sticky film on the leaves below them. The plant weakens and new growth is deformed.
Why it happened
Usually brought in on a new plant from a shop. They spread slowly but persistently and hide in hard-to-reach spots.
What to do
1. Isolate the plant. 2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and remove each clump individually. The alcohol dissolves them. 3. Then spray the whole plant with neem oil. 4. Repeat every 5–7 days for at least a month — the young ones are invisible. 5. Check the soil surface and the bottom of the pot too.
How to prevent it
Quarantine every new plant for two weeks and inspect its leaf joints. That is exactly where mealybugs hide.
Most common on these species
- Wax plant
- Begonia
- Jade plant
- Madagascar jasmine