Question
HI Will,
I just moved to a new loft and it should be perfect conditions for my plants.
big windows and lots of light. However my plants are getting all these
diseases. Both my money tree and old man cactus of  4 yrs have suddenly
developed scale infestation.
i just got a rubber plant and there are mealy bugs on them.
First off, how do i get rid of these bugs on my plants?
Secondly how do i make my home more pest free?
Can you also tell me why i am all of a sudden getting these bugs after having
healthy plants for closed to a decade. do you think a tree we acquired from
the previous owner of the loft has something to do with it? i found mealy
bugs on that tree.
any help is greatly appreciated.
thank you so much
best
flora

Answer
Hi Flora,

It is most frustrating to discover pest infestations on plants that heretofore have been pest-free! Tracking the source is always difficult. Sometimes they are transmitted from another plant or by hand or clothing. Most commonly, pests are on plants in an unnoticeable condition for a long time until conditions are favorable for their reproduction and then they reproduce rapidly and catch you by surprise. There is no 100% sure way to eliminate plant pests from your home forever. Thus, vigilance is always necessary as it is much easier to treat pests when you catch them early.

Regardless of their origin, the scale and mealybug need to be treated. Fortunately, the treatment I recommend is the same for both. That is because these very different looking critters are closely related.

Mix a spray solution of 5 parts water, 1 part rubbing alcohol and a squirt of liquid dish soap. You will need a lot of it because you need to spray each infested plant so that every bit of leaf and stem surface is dripping wet. This is very messy, but important because this spray kills only on direct contact. If a few critters survive between spray droplets, they will live to reproduce and they will return a few months down the road. Failure to spray thoroughly is the reason most folks do not succeed. If possible, you may want to do this outside.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC