Question
Hi Darlene,
I have small white spots on an indoor palm, they look like tiny tufts of cotton.  They are only on the top of the leaves and most often on the leaves where they join the stem.  I had them once before and the plant began to drop all of its leaves.  I has been at least a year and the plant is doing really well.  It still looks healthy.  But what are these white things and what should I do about them?  I dont want to lose all of the leaves again.

Thanks

Answer
Betsy,

The white tufts are mealy bugs. I would reccomend that you also spray the plant daily with a tablespoon of dish soap in a quart of room temperature water in a spray bottle. Do this for 2 weeks to kill any that have burrowed in or eggs that hatch. After that continue spraying twice a week for a month. Persistance is the key.
Nothing will get rid of insects with just one spraying.  You have to keep at it. The dish detergent will smother the insects. Good luck.

Darlene