White sticky coating on potted flowersis an unsightly sign of the presence of pests on our plants. These pests weaken plants and contribute to the overall deterioration of the condition of potted flowers, so it is worth removing them as soon as possible. Seehow to get rid of pests that cause white bloom on potted flowers!
Mealybugs - the cause of white sticky bloom on plants. Photo depositphotos.com
Where does the white sticky coating on flowers come from?
White raid on potted flowers is a characteristic symptom of mealybug occurrenceMealybug is a pest of potted flowers most often appearing in winter (during the heating season). Most often we can meet mealybugs on orchids, cacti and succulents. Sensitive plants are also hoja, diphenbachia and clivia.
Mealybugs are covered with a white waxy coating in the form of flocsThey form small colonies on the plant, especially on the axis at the base of the leaves and at the root neck, sucking the juice out and exuding a sticky discharge. Mealybugs also feed in the roots, most often attacking succulents in this way. They can be brought into the apartment with new plants or they are inhabited by potted plants that we put out on the balcony in summer.
How do I get rid of mealybugs?
Meal, which isthe most common cause of white bloom on potted flowers,can be disposed of at home or by spraying with protective preparations.
We will remove the white sticky coating on potted flowers at homeby washing the plants (leaves, stems and all hard-to-reach places where pests nest) with a cotton swab or a cotton bud soaked in an alcohol solution (you can use, for example, denatured alcohol ) with water and gray soap or washing-up liquid. After each washing with a cotton pad of one of the parts of the plant, the cotton pad should be replaced with a new one so as not to transfer pests to other parts of the plant. Repeat the action many times until it is successful.
The white sticky coating of the leaves of the plant forms mealybugs. Photo 19754, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Such washing, however, is very time-consuming, especially for larger plants, and the pests often reappear afterwards. Despite our best efforts, very small eggs may remain on the plant, which we will not notice and the pest will recover from them.Therefore, usuallyspraying against pests on potted flowers
A useful preparation based on natural ingredients is Emulpar Spray. This agent is produced on the basis of rice oil. When sprayed with Emulpa, the plant is covered with a thin coating that prevents the pests from breathing and moving, which ultimately leads to their extinction. Importantly, Emulpar Spray is a ready-to-use preparation and we do not have to mix it with water. It is also completely safe for people staying at home (you do not need to take the plants outside before spraying).
Agricover Spray and Substral Multi-Insekt work in a similar way.
If the potted flowers are heavily covered with white sticky coatingit is worth reaching for stronger plant protection agents - systemic insecticides. They contain chemicals that are taken up by the green parts of the plant and moved throughout the plant.Insects die by feeding on their juices, even if they are not sprayed directly.
When used on potted flowers, it will be most convenient to use a ready-to-use preparation in a container with a sprayer. Such preparations that are effective against mealybugs are: Polysect Hobby and Polysect Aerosol.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
