Question
I have a hedge of 6 to 7 foot 4 year old Coffee Plants.  Last year I found a white afid or mealy bug on 2 of my plants.  I sprayed with dreadful stuff and one died anyway.  Today I discovered the same thing on 2 of my plants it is white powderery but when rubbed I found tiny orange baby maggott like bugs.  Do you know what these could be and how to get rid of it.  They are being protected by ants. I am at the moment just washing it down with water.

Answer
Anne,

Your problem is mealy bugs. If your plants were indoors I would reccommend that you mix rubbing alcohol with water on an equal basis and add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent per litre of mix and spray the plant twice a week for 2 months to make sure you kill any meally bugs that hatch out. Then you will have to watch them closely for any further infestations.  

Other than that I reccommend a product calle Bayer Advanced 12 month Tree and Shrub Protect & Feed. It is available in the US in Walmart, Lowes, and most garden centers. It is a systemic. You mix it with water according to the instructions on the bottle and water the hedge with it. It will kill the mealy bugs and prevent them from coming back for 12 months. It also feeds the plants. If you can't buy it there you should be able to order it on the internet. It is the easiest.

Other than that you will have to go to your nearest garden center and tell them your hedge has mealy bugs and ask what they recommend and follow the instructions on the bottle. Good luck.

Darlene