Question

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Followup To

Question -
Hey, I have a Topiary Myrtle plant in my house and today i noticed some small white bugs under quite a few of its leaves, especially near the top.  I have also noticed sap all over the plant. I have had the plant only a few months and is still in the same pot.  The plant its self is about 1.5-2 feet tall. This is a really expensive plant and i don't want to throw it away, how can i control and get rid of these bugs????  I will send pictures.  PLEASE HELP!!!!
Thanx,
Melissa

Answer -
Hi Melissa,

Thanks for the photos. The bug photos are too blurry for me to discern just what they are. Tell me if they fly or if they have visible body parts (head, legs, etc.) or if they have a soft cotton-like outer coating. Once I have an answer to that question, then I will know what pests they are and I will tell you how to treat them.

Was your plant identified in any way other than Topiary Myrtle? The botanical name could be helpful in helping you with its care. I do have to advise you that this is not an easy plant to care for as a houseplant. Are you experienced with houseplants?

I look forward to your reply.

Best,
Will Creed

Hey,

The plant is called a Myrtus communis.  It seems that the majority on the bugs are on the underside of the leaves near the top where there is new growth.  Also the majority seem to be stationary, flat, oval shaped and are kinda fuzzy looking.  Earlier today i saw 2 - 3 fly away when i lifted the plant up, but i haven't seen any more fly since then.  I also have noted kinda like a powder substance on some of the leaves and the leaves are really sticky.  They are all white.  I don't have a ton of experience with plants, but i really wanna keep this plant as it was a special gift.  Should i repot the whole plant, or get an insecticidal spray or something.  I'm totally stumped.  Someone suggested getting rubbing alcohol to spray on them but i'm a bit scared to do this.  ? white flys, ? mealy bugs, or ? mites???

Answer
Hi Melissa,

Based on your description, you have an infestation of mealybugs. Your Myrtus may also have some whitefly, but that is not yet clear, so lets deal with the mealybug first and then go from there.

The mealybugs were on the plant before you acquired it, although you would not have noticed them in their juvenile form. I mention this only because returning it to the retailer may be an option for you to consider. The stickiness comes from the secretions of the mealybugs and it is called "honeydew."

The difficulty with treating mealybugs is that there are always more to deal with than meets the eye. Young mealybugs lack the telltale cotton-like protective coating and they are skillful at hiding in nooks and crannies where leaves and stems join.

The key to successfully eradicating these creatures is to spray the ones that are out of sight. That means that whatever treatment you select, you must get complete coverage, to the drip point, of all leaf and stem surfaces. If you miss a few, they will live to breed another day. For your topiary, that will be a difficult task because it is so densely packed with small leaves and this stems. You may have to repeat the treatment several times to ensure complete coverage.

I do not recommend any pesticides because they are all hazardous to use and not 100% effective against mealybugs. The best non-toxic treatment for mealybug is called Brand X foliage cleaner (Yes, that's for real). It is available through Southwest Plantscape Products in California (www.southwestplantscape.com ). Their phone is 1-800-333-7977. It is a silicon-based product so it is very slippery. Its ability to penetrate is probably the key to its effectiveness because it gets into the tiny crevices that other sprays miss.

You may want to try spraying with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol will not damage the plant as long as you don't apply it in direct sunlight. Mix 1 part alcohol with 5 parts of water and add a squirt of liquid soap. Be sure to spray all leaf and stem surfaces thoroughly. The common practice of applying alcohol with a Q-tip is not effective because it misses the ones you can抰 see. It is also best if you repeat this treatment again in 5 to 7 days to catch any crawlers that you missed the first time. After that, you should check your plant weekly to see if they return.

Do NOT repot your Myrtle. Give it as much direct sunlight as you possibly can. Lack of light indoors is the biggest problem with using this as an indoor plant. Allow the top half-inch of the soil to dry out and then water it thoroughly. Try to give it cooler temps in the winter, if possible.

To keep you topiary nicely shaped, you will have to prune it regularly. Anytime shoots start to stick out from the original ball contour, cut them back. If you let it go for weeks at a time, it becomes much more difficult to prune it back into shape.

This is a high maintenance plant, so do your best and let me know if you have further questions along the way.


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

If this information has been helpful, please take the time to give me a rating and nomination.

   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com