Hi guys,
I've had an attack of the dreaded mealy bug on my Jade (Elephant Bush) bonsai. It's happened before and although I'd kept reasonable control of the situation, they have, of course, come back again.
After a bit of research and some other advice received, I went for the following method:
- Firstly dabbing each bug with methylated spirit on the end of a cotton bud (cue tip) to kill as many as I could
- secondly, spraying all the tree with water mixed with a little washing up liquid.
I've woken up the next day to a large handful of fallen leaves (the tree still looks ok actually, as it's a large tree) many areas of the plant - mainly where I dabbed the meths - shrivelled and brown. A lot of the leaves that had fallen off were brown too. Some pictures have been attached.
Now, although the tree looks ok - despite the lots of leaves - was the methylated spirit a bad idea? I've heard lots of positive results from it, and use it before, but this time I was perhaps a little too over zealous with it, and I think it distressed the tree.
What do you think?
And should I give it another spray, in the attempt to wash off more of it??