Question
Hi Nick.

Our four young (1 year old - 8ft tall), bouganvillea plants have become infested with lots of small white cotton like bugs, and are looking very sorry for themselves, with most of their leaves already having fallen off.

Do you think it might be mealie worm infestation? If it isn't mealie worm, what might it be? What should we do to rectify the situation? Should we just buy new plants do you think?

Thank you very much for your help.

Doug.

Answer
It is more then likely scale insects, spray them with a horticultural oil in late afternoon (so as not to magnify the heat from the sun) and then wash off dead insects the next morning, the boug should regenerate, but no guarantees; Home Depot carries "Organocide" which is a combination fungicide and horticultural oil, follow the directions and you should be fine..Nick