Question
I just noticed that one of my house plants has been covered on stems, leaves and flowers by something small, yellowish in color and that seams to move but not all the time or everywhere. During the summer we take the indoor plants outside on the deck. This year we brought them inside about 2-3 weeks ago when the cold hit. My husband takes care of all plants I mostly love and admire them. Today as I got close to this plant I noticed the bad stuff on it. My husband noticed a little change a while back but it obviously got extensive quickly. For the past 2 years this plant has been blooming this pretty looking flowers, winter or summer, smelling soooo nice. Please, can you help our plant. I will try to send pictures of it to help with the diagnosis.
Thank you

Maria

Answer
Maria,

It appears that your Hoya plant has been attacked by both Mealy Bugs and aphids. If it is warm enough take it outside and spray it with a sharp stream of water from a hose to wash as many of the insects off as possible. If it is too cold where you are then get either a bottle of rubbing alcohol and put it in a spray bottle and spray the entire plant being sure you get the fronts and backs of all leaves. You have a pretty severe infestation so I would spray it daily for 2 weeks then every other day for 2 more weeks. After that watch it closely and if they come back resume spraying. If you do not have rubbing alcohol them put a tablespoon of dish soap in a quart of room temperature water and put that in the sprayer. Either way get this started today. The spraying will kill the insects on contact and you need to continue to get any eggs that hatch. Spread plastic or an old beach towel under the plant when spraying.

For your reference this plant needs lots of sun indoors and it needs to get very dry between waterings. These insects frequently attack plants that are weak because they are not in optimal conditions. Be very careful not to overwater. Keep it in the brightest location in your home. Good luck.

Darlene