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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16448

  • slashisgod
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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??

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16449

  • leatherback
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Odd. I have used it n the past without trouble. How much did you dilute it? (I usually diluted is 1:10, roughly.)

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16450

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- Firstly dabbing each bug with methylated spirit
- many areas of the plant - mainly where I dabbed the meths - shrivelled and brown.

was the methylated spirit a bad idea?


Conclusion seems simple.
The following user(s) said Thank You: slashisgod

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16451

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Fair enough.
Do you think it's going to do anymore damage, or do you think that so long as I've removed the damaged ones it'll be ok?

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16452

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Fair enough.
Do you think it's going to do anymore damage, or do you think that so long as I've removed the damaged ones it'll be ok?


I *think* the damage is already done and won't spread. I can't be sure though.

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16453

  • m5eaygeoff
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The dropped leaves could be from the damage the mealy bugs are doing. This is exactly how I would have done it. The washing up liquid nust be very weak though. You must also keep doing it every week.

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16454

  • slashisgod
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It could be, although, there has been no leaf dropping for a very long time, and then after my 'treatment' yesterday, all of these leaves dropped overnight.

I think the washing up liquid was pretty weak, but perhaps there was a little too much in there too.

I guess it can't hurt to give it another spray of just water, to ensure the meths have been cleaned off?

Annoyingly, I can still see some nasty little mealy bugs, so I clearly didn't get them all. Not that I was expecting to, but there seem to be more left than I thought!

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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? 8 years 8 months ago #16455

  • m5eaygeoff
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Probably wat has happened is moree eggs ave hatched. Methe will not eo any harm, it is the insect that is doung the damage.They can be very difficult to get rid of. Use the meths again to get rid of what are left and do it on a weekly basis.

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