Question
There is a white, powdery looking substance taking over the base and new growth of my Majesty palm.  It is kept indoors, and appears to be doing well with the exception of the white stuff.  Is it a parasite?  How do I get rid of the stuff and still save the plant?  Thank you!

Answer
Carl,

Ravenea Rivularis is called 揟he Majesty Palm?nOutdoors in south Florida or in California the plant can do very well in the landscape. But it has a few requirements ?lots of water, bright light or full sun and feed it heavy.

It wants LOTS of:
■Water         ■Light            ■Fertilizer
Inside the plant yellows easily, draws mites like a magnet, and its appearance typically declines very rapidly.

If the white stuff is truly powdery it could be powdery mildew, a fungal problem which I would treat with lysol spray sprayed on the entire plant making sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves and the surface of the soil. Do that every 3 days for a month and that should resolve the issue.

However I suspect that it looks more like little bits of cotton balls all over the plant. If that is the case the problem is mealy bugs, an insect that can be difficult to eradicate. You can use a q tip dipped in alcohol to remove most of the cotton covered insects. It will not damage the plant. Then put 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the entire plant and the soil surface every 3 days for a month. This should kill most of the eggs as they hatch so you can totally eradicate the insects.

If you decide it is easier to pitch the plant and you still want a palm in your home look for a bamboo palm. It has a similar look and will stay much healthier in the home. Good luck.

Darlene