Die 5 besten Mittel gegen Wollläuse-Botanicly

The 5 best remedies against mealybugs

Mealybugs Background: The life of mealybugs

Mealybugs are often also called mealybugs and are found on plants both indoors and outdoors. The little animals, between one and twelve millimeters in size, can be found all over the world.

In Central Europe, however, the citrus mealybug and the long-tailed mealybug are the most common.

How do mealybugs damage the plant?

Mealybugs damage the plant through their sucking activities, for example on the leaves, the stem or the roots. But that's not the only thing that harms the plant.

The little animals also excrete toxins through their saliva. This inhibits the growth process of the still healthy plant.

Detect mealybugs

Actually, you can clearly see the affected parts of the plant: small, white webs surround the little animals. This waxy substance serves as protection. In addition, like aphids, mealybugs secrete honeydew as a waste product.

This sticky sweet substance is highly attracted to sooty mold. If this is the case, not only is your plant infested with mealybugs, but it is also suffering from sooty fungus. So a double burden!

If the leaves of your plant are affected - e.g. from your golden fruit palm - they usually turn yellowish and curl up until they fall off. If the infestation is very severe, it can even happen that the plant dies, but of course it won't come to that with our means against mealybugs!

Where do mealybugs come from?

Unfortunately, mealybugs often appear with incorrect care or incorrect site conditions. It is therefore all the more important to pay special attention to it. Dry air and a location that is too warm or dark favor infestation by mealybugs.

These problems usually occur in the winter months, when there is often dry heated air in the rooms. In addition, the little creatures also feel particularly comfortable in soil that is over-fertilized with nitrogen.

Tip: Always make sure your home is well ventilated and avoid treating the plant with chemical fertilizers.

Fighting mealybugs - top 5 home remedies

Here we present our five remedies against mealybugs. You probably already have some of the home remedies at home. If not, then that's not a problem, because you can easily get these things in the supermarket or in the garden center.

1. Garlic

A proven remedy for mealybugs is the garlic decoction. To make this home remedy, you must first chop 50g of fresh garlic very finely.

Then pour 1.5 liters of boiling water over it. Let the brew stand for about 30 minutes. Then you can pour it through a sieve. When the brew has cooled down, you can spray it onto the infested plant using a spray bottle.

2. soap solution

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of soft or curd soap in one liter of water. You can then dampen a rag with the solution and wipe the infested plant with it. Alternatively, you can put the solution in a spray bottle. Always make sure that the remedy does not get on the soil in the pot.

3. Horsetail

Dried horsetail is also very good for fighting mealybugs. Boil about 20 g of the herb in a liter of water for 30 min.

After that, you should let the tea cool down and pour it through a sieve. In addition, you can also add a dash of vegetable oil. Then spray the solution on with the spray bottle.

4. Melissa Spirit

Mix some lemon balm spirit with water and then add the solution to a spray bottle as well. The alcohol it contains is a perfect remedy for mealybugs.It dissolves the lice's waxy outer covering, leaving them exposed

5. Nettle Brew

For the brew you should pour 1 kg of fresh nettles in a container with 10 L of boiling water. You should now let the covered container steep for three days (preferably stir once a day). You can then pour the brew through a sieve, as with the horsetail herb, and pour it into a spray bottle, which you can use to spray the affected parts of the plant.

Example: mealy bugs orchids

Is there a white coating on your orchid? In addition, have you noticed for a long time that the leaves are starting to wither? Then it is very likely that your plant is infested with mealybugs.

Fight mealybugs: chemically? So that the pests do not spread further, there are also simple biological means against mealybugs. You should always prefer these to chemical products from the garden center first.

Home remedies for orchids

If the infestation is not that far advanced, an oil and washing-up liquid solution will help. First and foremost, you should separate the infested orchid from the other plants to avoid spreading mealybugs. If the flowers are affected, you must cut them off immediately. For the oil-dishwashing liquid solution, you need to mix 1L of water with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a good dash of washing-up liquid. Then you can use a spray bottle to apply the solution to the plant every day.

Tip: If you have used this remedy against mealybugs, then an additional repotting will help, as the roots can also be affected. To do this, you should carefully remove the old soil and spray the roots with water. Then plant in a new pot with fresh orchid soil.

Example: Mealybugs Hydrangeas : The home remedy

A mixture of oil, water and washing-up liquid, similar to the solution for orchids, helps to successfully combat mealybugs on the affected plant.

To do this, mix 12 g of paraffin oil and one liter of water. You then have to add ten drops of washing-up liquid to the solution so that it is effective against mealybugs. You can use a spray bottle to apply the solution to the affected parts of the plant.

Example: Palm pests (white)

In addition to orchids and hydrangeas, palm trees are also very popular with mealybugs. You can recognize an infestation on your palm tree by the fact that the leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground. Also, the white waxy substance that protects the mealybugs can be seen between the leaves.

Home remedies for palm trees

To declare war on mealybugs, you can use a simple household remedy. But before you use this remedy against mealybugs, you should first isolate the plant to avoid transmission.

Put them in a light but not too warm place. To prepare the mixture of alcohol, oil and water you have to mix 15 ml of alcohol with 15 ml of paraffin oil and one liter of water. Then use a spray bottle to spray the solution onto the affected areas of your palm at intervals of two to three days.

Are mealy bugs harmful? - Mealybug Transmission to humans

All clear: Dthe plant viruses that are transmitted by mealybugs cannot spread to us humans, since plant cells and human cells differ significantly.

Here you will find a large selection of healthy houseplants that will definitely get to you without pests.I promise!


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