I had a monster infestation on my orchids. I found using a Q tip just pushed the mealys deeper into the leaves, so I switched to a hard bristle artist paint brush dipped in alcohol. The hard bristles worked amazingly well! I also rinsed them all under running water and removed all their potting mix and rested them in shallow glass vases with a bit of filtered water just touching the lower roots. I inspect the orchids every second day and remove any babies that crawl out. It’s been two weeks and the mealys are getting less and less.

Laura one of the MANY things I LOVE about you and the channel is you SHOW YOUR PROBLEMS, ISSUES AND/OR BUGS OR INFESTATIONS OF WHATEVER. So many other people/channels etc want to appear perfect or the like. Not too often can we come across people who are honest and transparent as you are. I imagine it is pretty hard to even wrap your head around how many people you are helping whether it is from information/learning or just comfort of a beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing your life with us. God Bless you Arron Benjamin Baby Girl Cheddar Russel and the girls. It is THANKSGIVING here in Canada this weekend so I want to say i am EXTREMELY THANKFUL for you and your channel

I got goose bumps when you said bring it inside the kitchen sink. I would do that outside with a spray-hose.

It was so satisfying watching those mealybugs get washed down the drain😁

I want to take a moment to once again praise your ability to provide accurate, complete information on almost any plant topic. Your videos are my ho to for any garden situation. Today, 3/30/22, I have discovered mealy bugs on my Bush Daisies. They weren't there on Sunday but they are there today, Wednesday. So I quickly punched up Garden Answer for mealy bugs. Although your video focused on indoor, your inclusion of outdoor plants assured me, the treatment works for both. I have watched you for over 5 years now, watched you grow in confidence, expertise, and presentation. And you have it girl.. take a bow and be proud! Thank you and my best to you, Aaron and the babes. Ginny, Paradise California zone 7-9 😘

Thank you so much for the detailed instruction. For some of us it helps not only to hear it but to see it also.

What a chore. I never new what a measly bug was, and on the first frame of this video, THIS! I have some!! Yikes. I know how I will spend my Saturday, now. Grrrr. I have an agave in a pot on a table outside that looks as bad or worse. Dangit! But I have water and I have Neem. Thanks so much for solving my problem, too. This channel is so helpful in many, many ways. God bless. 👏🏻💕👏🏻

You should install a old sink or trough in your barn or high tunnel for jobs like this.

That freaks me out😆I couldn’t put dirt in my sink like that. 😜

Just found your channel! Thanks soo much for the awesome tips on Neem Oil. I think many of us miss the "repeat application cycle" for two to three times. I'm hopeful that will take care of an infestation that we've been battling with some plants in the house. The full everybody gets Neem Oil Treatment to ensure nobody escapes to other healthy plants!

They can also come in your produce from the grocery store. I found some on bananas that I had just bought.

I have these on my tomato plants and I really didn't know how to tackle them. Now I know, thank you so much. Love from India.❤️

Hey Laura, I grow a few different varieties of Orchids. When I first started bringing them home I noticed mealy bugs and aphids on my plants. Took me a while to realize that I needed to repot everything that comes into my home. I use a mix of 1 Cup Water, 1 Cup Alcohol and a few drops of dish soap. Put it in a spray bottle, shake it up and spray it all over the plant. Do this every other day for a week, then check plant. And I agree, don’t spray in the direct sun, and separate the affected plant from everything else. So, the Alcohol will help kill the mealy bugs by getting thru their shell and the soap will keep bugs from sticking to the plant.. This mix is good for not only mealy bugs but, thrips and aphids. Ever since I started this method I have yet to have a problem, that was four years ago! Thanks love your content. R

as a houseplant collector, the gasp that left my mouth when you showed the first plant. omg

So very helpful! I’m starting to build my houseplant collection so having helpful tips like this will be great

I can't say I've ever seen mealy bugs outside. Inside yes - in fact am dealing with some on the peppers plants I'm trying to overwinter. Looks like I'm on the right track - perfect timing for this video thank you. On a side note how cute is the small meow when Cheddar is behind you! Made my heart sing. Love when the kitties make an appearance!

Hi Laura and Cheddar! I appreciate it so much that you share the good, the bad and the ugly with us. It's so helpful to learn how to take care of problems like this and for you to show us the process, not just tell us about the product. I hope your other plants weren't as bad. I read all of the comments and I'm sure everyone appreciated your replies on why you did this in your house. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this with us!

great video!! and this is why you stand out as the queen of gardening videos: you show us the imperfect and sometimes yucky situations that we all get into!! a lot of us can relate to this kind of thing, and getting practical advice on how to treat it is so very appreciated... that must've been a day's work though, sigh... sorry it caught up with you, but thank you so much for video'ing it and teaching us! if you've taught me anything, it's consistent water, food, and care for my plants, whether inside or out... i think for some of us, we love them so much we bring home more than we can effectively take care of unless you get yourself and the plants on a schedule.. and you've taught us that as well!!! thanks for the video!!

Mealy bugs are the pain of us plant lovers lives, but Neem oil I have found to be the BEST ever treatment for these horrors, I use it once a month for all my plants indoors and outdoors in my polytunnel to keep them at bay, thanks so much for sharing these tips and info Laura, and sending you lots of love and happiness and PLANT POWER for a wonderful new week ahead XXXX

Oh your plumber is going to love you. That soil is going to clog the sink drain. You should have done that outside using your hoses and maybe get a utility sink in the barn with a drain just discharging outside.

Quite informative, I am getting ready to invest in some houseplants and am making a list of the sprays you use firsthand. Then I can concentrate on enjoying the plants themselves. Thank you and what a job you have ahead of you, you are so patient!!!!

You might want to think about installing a utility sink some where so you don't have to do that in your kitchen sink. With the amount of plants you have I think it would be beneficial to you.

I had mealybugs on a couple orchids several years ago and an orchid specialist at the local nursery recommended dipping the whole pot in a bucket of systemic insecticide solution with a repeat in 7-10 days. It worked. I know it's not the neem oil but that was a whole lot easier than washing and repotting when you have a large number of plants.

Laura, you amaze me! It’s incredible how you hold so much knowledge in your head. I’m constantly confused about insects (what kind of pest, how/when/what to spray). I wish I had the know how and confidence that you do. Maybe someday 😊 It seems I have so many garden problems this year with both insects and fungal issues. It’s been a struggle!

💛 Thank you Laura. Perfect timing for this video. I will be right there with you today getting my bugs under control also.💛 Good luck

This is so helpful!! I am dealing with a bad mealybug infestation in my front flower bed. My two lantanas have been hit the worst. Thank you so much. 🥰

Baby wipes work well for wiping them off. Putting sand on top layer of soil helps too.

Wow Laura! I had no idea what was showing up on the leaves of my melon and squash plants until this video. It was a light dusting but none the less it was there. Even though I’ve cut some of the leaves off and sprayed the plant with neem, I’ll go back and spray again since it’s been over a week. Thank you!

It was extremely helpful to see your step by step process. Life happens and you deal with it when you can. I continuously deal with spider mites. And yes, I use my phone calendar to remind me. Thank you!

I'm sorry you're dealing with such a bad infestation, but it's so helpful to us newbies to see this process!

It does look pretty all cleaned up. Thanks for the tips.

I had a huge infestation on my Mandavilla. I irradiated it with Neem Oil which did a wonderful job, but I did not think about repotting it, so I really appreciate this video. Now I have the heeby-jeebies about larvae being in the soil 😱. Honestly Laura, you are such a huge help for home gardeners like me and you being such inspiration to me every day. 1st time commenting, but long time viewer. Also, I have a 2 year old that loves to garden with me (or play with dirt 😂) and so I love seeing you and Aaron getting Ben involved. God bless you and your family!

I agree with the comment, an outdoor sink would be a must after washing this plant in the kitchen sink.

Super helpful to see you address each pest, and how to fight them off. It is one thing to read how to do it, but another to actually watch someone fix these problems. Please don't think these types of videos are not just as useful to us as your beautiful garden tours. Keep up the great work!

This has to be the best video I've seen on a bug infestation. Thank you for being so thorough.

I’m dealing with a huge mealy bug problem on my coleus. I have them all over my huge coleus that are planted in the ground and I have even had them pop up on ones I have in pots and ones I have rooted in the house. I haven’t seen them on any of my other plants but they sure seem to love my coleus! What a pain in the butt!

TU! Excellent information and very helpful. I did not know about using’ spreader sticker’.

Thank you for this step by step tutorial on how to take care of those pesky pets! Excellent & very helpful information to keep on file! 😊🦠😝👍

Thanks, I appreciate this video, I have recently moved to Central Texas and am dealing with a very different environment from my previous gardens.....there are any number of take-aways in your informational demonstrations, though this is specific to mealybugs, it covers other plant housekeeping practices of which I wasn’t aware...again, thanks !!

Don't be so hard on yourself about what you didn't do. Look at all you already do everyday. You only have two hands and one life. Toss the plants and enjoy your family more. XOXOX

This was very helpful! Just learning about mealybugs, unfortunately.

Thanks you for sharing this with us!! It seems daunting and I can see how it could overwhelm easily... but you stayed calm and handled it one step at a time!! 💗 🌱 🌺 🙏

Keeping it “real”! Very informative......always learning!🍂🍂

I love watching this channel so much that I watched a video on how to get rid of a bug that I've never had a problem with, lol! On a side note, just some friendly advise that bleach shouldn't be used in a metal sink as it can break down the metal and corrode it.

Thank you. This was extremely helpful. Ive been dealing with these bugs for 2 years now in 3 of my mature crepe myrtles. Neem oil is what my local garden center suggested as well and it works. 👍

Morning Laura, it's always a blessing when you show us a how to situation. 👍thanks for the demo.the 🤠🍂🍁🌵 y'all have a blessed day now ya here🙏🙏🙏

Thank you so much for making this video. I never had a mealy bug problem until I brought some home from Lowe's on some sempervivums. Now, a year later I'm still tackling a mealy bug every now and then.Once a week I go out with my rubbing alcohol and my kids tiny paint brush to try and wipe any away I see.

I got mealy bugs this year on a plant i bought from a nursery and it has spread like crazy. I was using the alcohol spray on them but now I will try Neem oil. Thank you!!!

we just used this technique! we will continue to watch out for the eggs that we cant see right now, hatch in the next day and weeks to come! thank you for tips and tricks! Cheers from Arizona 🍷

it was really useful to see how you dealt with an infestation - even to the point of how you organise yourself as I soil everywhere indoors!

You have a happy clean plant there now. Looks great! Thanks for the information.

I’m dealing with them on some of my pathos! Thank you so much for this advice

I love you so much. It is rare to find someone who truly understands plants and has such a wide knowledge as you do!!!!! Also, so sorry you have bugs! Coming from a fellow horticulturist, it can be so depressing! But they (all different kinds) have been bad everywhere this year!!!! You're not alone!

I appreciate your honesty and knowledge on this matter!

Thank you! I had no idea what it even was! I have been dealing with it for over a year. Now I know exactly how to get rid of it!

OMG!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING ABOUT THIS!! I have a major mealybugs infestation on my Lantanas and Gaillardias and nothing has been helping. I've use organic and synthetic. It's very discouraging but I guess I just need to keep at it.

I found that mealies have become neutral to the Neem oil. Also, Neem oil ends up smothering your leaves too after awhile. I find taking it outta the soil, pouring 70% of rubbing alcohol over the stem and leaves, wait 5min and then rinse REALLY WELL. Changing the soil and scrubbing out the pot helps too. I place the plant on front of a fan then repeat. Treat all other plants that are nearby the same , these mealies have become resistant to ALOT of our sprays. I also try to keep a low dose of systemic in the soil at all times as well. (Only for indoor plants though) Another way is too drown them, submerge your plant for 30 min and they will drown. I believe they die at 22 min but I always give it the extra time for the Stubborn ones. If your soil is compact and hard , dunk the whole pot under in a storage bin, usually the soil will stay put if compact.

Wow, that was an infestation. I've seen those before and I knew of the q-tip and alcohol solution to those problems but I'm so glad to know of this solution because it appears to get it all and rid yourself of more of the problem for a better grade of solution immediately. Thank you once again for all you do in showing even the bad with the good. God Bless and stay safe all of you.

Perfect timing for my daughter! She just discovered mealy bugs in one of her plants. Thanks for posting such informative videos.

That neem oil seems handy! I don't have houseplants, my house is like a cave lol. And I would have used my kitchen sink too. I wash all my garden veg in there, no biggie. Dirt, occasional bugs,, It all goes down the drain and I clean after.

Going for Neem Oil and fresh potting soil in the morning.! Thanks for the tutorial. 😂😂

Great information, thank you

Always so helpful and informative! Thank you❤️

When you just made breakfast and you pull up the KZfaq to watch Your Favorite Gardener..... and its about bugs! Still loved the information but not at breakfast time LOL love the channel

Thank you Laura ! Much appreciated !

This video was a blessing!! I just found a mealy bug infestation on my indoor plants! Thank you so much for your process!

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one to use their kitchen sink for plants!. I had a whole bunch of succulents that got mealy bugs, so I fill up the sink and give them a vigorous bath, then the neem oil!

Very informative thank you. Good luck getting rid of the problem really fast

I did the same recently (re-potting/cleaning) most of my house plants and pots that have been outside this summer cause some of them had scale, so I just did them all to be on the safe side. It took two days! When something like that occurs, I think I have too many house plants. lol

Hi Laura thank you your video was very helpful, I discovered mealybugs in one of my bushes outside while I was trimming it. I quickly sprayed with neem oil which I always have and hopefully it solved the problem. I will inspect again after the rain and if I need to trim it down more I will just to make sure it does not transfer to my other plants nearby.

This is a great tutorial on how to get rid of mealy bugs. Thank you for making it look easier than i thought but uggg i found a few of those pests on a succulent this morning. I just used a qtip with alcohol. I'll be watching all the succulents around that plant now. But again great video thanks

Wow! Great info, thanks so much. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that. I’m thinking of your back right now. I had an infestation of soil gnats once, and repotting and cleaning so many pots & plants was back-breaking for me. Take good care. Hugs!!! p.s. Ignore the comments containing criticism in this feed. You got this!

Thank you Laura, great information! Hugs🤗🤗❤💜

You are very informative about troubleshooting your plants. I will watch for these mealybugs as we get ready to plant outdoors.

Great video. It's the wrong time of year, but I've always found putting houseplants outside in a shaded area for a few weeks kills off most pest issues, which always seems to be worse under glass. I put agaves out all summer anyway, as they always look so much healthier afterwards.

I'm on it!!! Thanks for the advice!!

How did you know that I just found mealy bugs in my baby jade plant! I love that you talk about things that are happening in our gardens and houseplants right when we need the advice!!! Thank you for all the great info! 💕

Thank you, Laura!

I‘ve been dealing with the same issue! They are so sneaky... hiding under leaves and at the nodes of the stem. They are taking over my coleus. This video came at a great time! 🌱

Love the neem oil ready spray thanks for sharing and you look beautiful as always. God bless

Thank you for sharing, I’m new to houseplants and trying to learn things to watch out for. 😊❤

Great information. Have a blessed weekend

Oh wow, I didn't know it was that easy to treat... I've said goodbye to a few succulents no thanks to those gross bugs. Thanks for sharing!

This was so helpful, thank you! You are awesome!

Great video, Laura. I've thrown out plants because I didn't know what to do besides spraying them with Neem oil, but the infestation was too bad to just wipe off and didn't respond to the spray very well. Thank you!

How funny.. just yesterday I saw a little white puff on my jade plant and wondered what the heck it was. I’m headed for the alcohol and a q-tip now! Thanks, Laura!

I have fought mealy bug so often here in Florida (moved here from PA four years ago); it is a losing battle and so work intensive. I had a gorgeous Black & Blue Salvia that the Hummingbirds loved. I started to see the Mealy Bug; I treated with Neem Oil, mild dish soap in the correct ratio to water. One morning when I came out to check the plant (done daily); the plant was white, covered in Mealy Bug and from the long struggle, looked like it was almost finished. I pulled the plant and immediately treated the soil; I planted a different plant the next year. The other thing I am struggling with is Scale Bugs. I have had flower gardens my whole life and I have never dealt with this much of a problem with bugs. They love the warm, moist climate; no doubt about it.

Oh Laura! I have a cactus with these and have googled unsuccessfully how to deal! Thank you!!!!!

Thank you for the great tips 👍

That was so helpful! I just got a new gardenia plant that was doing so great and all of a sudden started to suffer. It has little white things under the leaves, that I found because of this video.

Thank you so much! I have a hanging viney type plant and I thought it was getting rotted and moldy from top watering so I started bottom watering and the mold was getting worse LOL they're mealies!!!!

Another great instructural video. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you SOOO much for this video! These popped up on my gorgeous elephant ear in a pot a few weeks ago and I’ve been hoping since then that you’d have a video on how to fix it! I’ve done some spraying but it’s a pretty gnarly infestation and hasn’t done any use. I’ll be using this as a step by step guide! These are the most disgusting looking bugs I can’t wait to be rid of them!

I've been waiting for a video on these bugs!! Sadly last winter I threw away many plants out of fear! I didn't know how to treat them. Thanks for the tips!!

Hi Laura, my mom has had mealy bug issues for a while and we live in the Caribbean Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹. We often wondered if you experienced mealy bug issues in your climate. So thankful for the video. 😊👍🏽

I've always used my kitchen sink too 🤷🏼‍♀️ everything can be cleaned after, no big deal

I found the best solution is wiping with a q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Then make a spray with 1 tsp dishwasher soap, 4tsp isopropyl alcohol and rest of water. Spray this on the plant every 3rd day and at the end of 6-9 days they will be gone. 👍

I throughly enjoyed this video on mealy bug 🐜 infestation as I have them on three of my orchids outside. Now I know how and what to do as soon as I buy some neem oil.

I think you would benefit from having a sink and running water put in your barn. That way you don’t have to do this inside the house. 🙂

Never had a problem with indoor plants before . Very interesting advice and video .