Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
- slashisgod
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Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..? was created by slashisgod
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16448I'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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- leatherback
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Replied by leatherback on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16449Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Auk
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Replied by Auk on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16450slashisgod wrote: - 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.
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- slashisgod
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Replied by slashisgod on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16451Do 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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- Auk
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Replied by Auk on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16452slashisgod wrote: 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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- m5eaygeoff
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Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16453Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- slashisgod
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Replied by slashisgod on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16454I 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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- m5eaygeoff
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Replied by m5eaygeoff on topic Mealy Bugs on Jade! Methylated Spirit hurt tree..?
Posted 8 years 9 months ago #16455Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.