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Aug 2, 2011 6:18 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Linda
SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a)
"Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Region: Texas Vegetable Grower Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Canning and food preservation Gardens in Buckets
Tip Photographer Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ferns
Not sure if they're regular old mealy bugs, or something else. They're oval shaped and fuzzy white. Bigger than mealybugs I've encountered before.

In any case, what should I hit em with? Looks like they're attacking the weakest of the tomato cuttings I'm currently rooting for my fall crop. They haven't touched the stronger cuttings.

Thx.

Linda
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Aug 2, 2011 6:34 PM CST
Name: Lee Anne Stark
Brockville, Ontario, Canada (Zone 5a)
Perpetually happy!
Keeps Goats Forum moderator Frogs and Toads Tip Photographer Keeper of Poultry I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Charter ATP Member Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Region: Canadian
Neem? Rubbing alcohol?
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Aug 3, 2011 7:54 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Linda
SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a)
"Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Region: Texas Vegetable Grower Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Canning and food preservation Gardens in Buckets
Tip Photographer Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ferns
Thanks, Three!

I looked them up in a bug database, and, sure enough, they're mealybugs all right! And, yes, Neem, alcohol, soap suds and firebombing are recommended.

Hugs!
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Aug 3, 2011 8:04 AM CST
Name: Lee Anne Stark
Brockville, Ontario, Canada (Zone 5a)
Perpetually happy!
Keeps Goats Forum moderator Frogs and Toads Tip Photographer Keeper of Poultry I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Critters Allowed Cottage Gardener Charter ATP Member Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Region: Canadian
Lovey dubby Group hug
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Aug 3, 2011 12:06 PM CST
Name: Marylyn
Houston, TX (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I sent a postcard to Randy! Region: Texas Daylilies Lilies
Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Level 1
"firebombing" ... Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing Rolling on the floor laughing
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Aug 3, 2011 1:36 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Linda
SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a)
"Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Region: Texas Vegetable Grower Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Canning and food preservation Gardens in Buckets
Tip Photographer Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ferns
Marylyn,
Have you started seeds for your fall/winter garden? Confused
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Aug 3, 2011 3:23 PM CST
Name: Marylyn
Houston, TX (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I sent a postcard to Randy! Region: Texas Daylilies Lilies
Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Level 1
No. In the past every seed I have ever tried to grow has died. Last year, after reading and re-reading and re-re-reading Jill's seed planting tutorials, I bought a bunch of pepper seeds from a co-op and determined that I was GOING to grow seeds and they were GOING to live!! Peppers love Texas weather, and I had step by step by step instructions - how hard could it be??

So I bought the seeds and my sweet husband put up some shelves and some fluorescent lights on adjustable chains, and I started the seeds. And they grew and grew, and I misted them and babied them, and they grew and they grew...

And they finally got big enough to plant outside, so I took them outside in the spot I had prepared for them, and carefully set them out and labeled them. I had a bunch of seedlings left (because I had planted ALL of the seeds, expecting some of them to die (did I mention I usually kill seeds??), and they had ALL made it, so I had zillions of them), so I potted the rest of the seedlings in tiny pots and took them to church and foisted them on all of my friends there.

The seedlings grew and grew... but only a couple of them fruited. I think we got 2 peppers out of all of those (DOZENS! of) plants. I thought that spot would have enough sun, but it turns out it really doesn't. I had friends stopping me in church for months, though, telling me how great the peppers they were harvesting were. I thought about asking them to share, but decided that would sound a little too pathetic. Hilarious!

So... right now the little atrium that I started the seeds in is filled with wallboard and wheelbarrows and assorted other tools, and although the shelves and lights are still out there, I'm not sure I can get to them.

Long story short (I know - it's wayy too late for that! Hilarious! ) if I plant a fall/winter garden, I think I'll buy my seedlings from the nursery. Blinking
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Aug 3, 2011 3:56 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Linda
SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a)
"Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Region: Texas Vegetable Grower Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Canning and food preservation Gardens in Buckets
Tip Photographer Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ferns
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Sad

I had a horrible sweet bell pepper crop, too! So did most everyone I know, and some I gave my seedlings to. Don't ever forget that there could actually be something wrong with some of the seed strains, AND NOT THE GROWERS!

It's not always user-error... Whistling

Anyway, I have my light shelves set up, and if I can get past all this heat, I'm hoping to start sowing seeds this weekend. I'll be sowing seeds for: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, collard greens, lettuce, mustard greens, and spinach.

If all goes according to plan, I'll plant out starting October 8th and staggering out more every 2-3 weeks until around December 21st (the Winter Solstace). That way, not everything will be ready all at once, and I can process every couple weeks or so for the freezer.

I'll keep you posted! I tip my hat to you.

Hugs!

TWO-SHELF LIGHT STAND
Thumb of 2011-08-03/Gymgirl/973692
Last edited by Gymgirl Aug 4, 2011 11:36 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 3, 2011 11:37 PM CST
Name: Marylyn
Houston, TX (Zone 9a)
Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I sent a postcard to Randy! Region: Texas Daylilies Lilies
Cat Lover Garden Ideas: Level 1
I can't wait to drool over your photos!! Lovey dubby Lovey dubby
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Aug 4, 2011 5:10 AM CST
Name: Holly
South Central Pa
Region: Mid-Atlantic Charter ATP Member Greenhouse I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pennsylvania Tropicals
Ponds Hummingbirder Birds Butterflies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Garden Ideas: Master Level
Will firebombing work? Hilarious! So far neither my alcohol/neem mixture or the systemic insecticide had gotten rid of those pesky mealy bugs. I can clean them up but they still come back been fighting this battle for a year now. I might be ready for the firebombing cure. Grumbling
Life is Great! Holly
Please visit me and learn more about My Life on the Water a Personal Journey Thread in the MidAtlanticMusings Cubit.
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Aug 4, 2011 6:01 AM CST
Name: Sally
Wesley Chapel. FL (Zone 9a)
Tip Photographer Birds Tropicals Plant and/or Seed Trader Ponds Orchids
Hummingbirder Garden Art Region: Florida Container Gardener Cat Lover Butterflies
I've read that malathion will get rid of the mealy bugs. You may need to use the malathion again two weeks after the first treatment and then you will need to spray regularly with neem oil to control them. I had mealy bugs on my night blooming jasmine last year and they were a royal pain to get rid of. Make sure you treat the soil around the plant as well and if they are in pots, treat the pots. Good luck, I hate those things!!
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Aug 4, 2011 2:58 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Do you folks really use all those chemicals on food too?

Karen
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Aug 4, 2011 4:42 PM CST
Name: Holly
South Central Pa
Region: Mid-Atlantic Charter ATP Member Greenhouse I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: Pennsylvania Tropicals
Ponds Hummingbirder Birds Butterflies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Garden Ideas: Master Level
No, I'm talking just house plants.
Life is Great! Holly
Please visit me and learn more about My Life on the Water a Personal Journey Thread in the MidAtlanticMusings Cubit.
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Aug 4, 2011 4:54 PM CST
Name: Karen
Valencia, Pa (Zone 6a)
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Cut Flowers Winter Sowing Charter ATP Member Seed Starter Echinacea
Plant and/or Seed Trader Region: Ohio Region: United States of America Butterflies Hummingbirder Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Oh, I misunderstood. Gymgirl was talking about pepper plants, then mealy bugs came up. I couldn't imagine anyone pouring malathion on their vegetables! Sorry for the stupidity!

Karen
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Aug 7, 2011 10:38 AM CST
Name: Jacquie (JB) Berger
Wrightstown, New Jersey (Zone 6b)

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: United States of America Region: New Jersey Houseplants Container Gardener
Farmer Keeps Horses Dog Lover Birds The WITWIT Badge Plays in the sandbox
I have come to the conclusion the mealy bugs are sent to us to see how patient we really are.

I thought I had finally gotten rid of them, but I found more just the other day on three gardenias I have in the house and no new plants have been brought in to carry them. They seem to like the younger and new growth. They are big and ugly as well, I am not sure if that is one or a group together. I just hate those little suckers. I find the Neems mix with dawn liquid and water is the best treatment after a good washing. I usually make sure I spray after the sun is down or in the morning so it dries before the sun hits it. Also look on your containers. They hide in all sorts of places. I think I am going to try and find a way to really exterminate these little buggers but it would have to be natural, not chemical. Good luck all. If anyone comes up with a new cure, let me know. I need all the help I can get. Grumbling
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Oct 6, 2011 11:31 PM CST
Name: Matthew William
Sydney (Zone 1)
We provide Sydney landscape design
The fuzzy white things are probably mealybugs if they look like white bits of cotton.

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 also 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.
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Oct 7, 2011 11:20 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Linda
SE Houston, Tx. (Hobby) (Zone 9a)
"Godspeed, & Good Harvest!"
Region: Texas Vegetable Grower Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Master Level Canning and food preservation Gardens in Buckets
Tip Photographer Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Ferns
I've taken to dunking the entire plant, soil, pot, and all, when I can, into a soapy bath of Lemon Ajax.

MatthewWilliam is correct in that, if you miss a few, they WILL live to breed another day!
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Oct 8, 2011 1:36 PM CST
Name: Jacquie (JB) Berger
Wrightstown, New Jersey (Zone 6b)

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Region: United States of America Region: New Jersey Houseplants Container Gardener
Farmer Keeps Horses Dog Lover Birds The WITWIT Badge Plays in the sandbox
I missed some of the one plant and sure enough,they started again. It is now outside and full of neems and dawn spray. I agree Get 'em all the first time or you will be sorry. Blinking I only have one eye and sometiimes I miss some. Just my luck.
Come Visit us and chat awhile at
https://www.facebook.com/JBsPl...


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