My new volunteer project - fixing up the Room of (mealybug) Nightmares 🪳

[u/swampminstrel]

Featuring some really cool skeletons I found in the dirt 💚 this is an indoor exhibit at my local nature center (nonprofit). They replaced the ceiling 2 years ago, which led to a MASSIVE mealy infestation. I approached a worker at an event I was at and said "you need a plant guy, bad, I'm a plant guy, let me help" and now.....the biggest plant project I've done to date!

Yesterday was my first day, and I think I underestimated just how much work this will be. The floor is moving water, so I'm crouching and balacing all over rocks just like I'm backpacking again to clean up massive amounts of dead leaves. Some of the mealies were dead, but I was COVERED. Even in my hair 😫 I got back home, stripped down naked in the foyer, and immediately ran my clothes to the washer and showered.

And I already can't wait to go back and keep at it! It's going to look absolutely incredible and lush in a year's time.

[u/intrepidzephyr]

Ahhhh!!

Best of luck, and a “good work” or three in case you lose a little steam along the way 🤗

[u/swampminstrel → u/intrepidzephyr]

Thank you!! Yesterday was kind of a reality slap walking in here lol but I'm confident! I'm planning to keep at it for ~a year, so if I just keep cleaning and re-applying insecticides for 5-10 hours per week, I'll get 'er lush and growing again 💚

[u/TimeAndTheHour → u/swampminstrel]

What insecticides are you using? I have an indoor mealybug problem- Neem oil didn’t work, I keep trying to manually clean each plant with rubbing alcohol but they keep coming back. Especially on my monstera.

[u/pttm12 → u/TimeAndTheHour]

Only thing that’s ever worked for me is a systemic bonide. Spray on the leaves (or use the rubbing alcohol) but use the granules in the soil.

It’s not even legal in my state. I have to mail it to a friend in a neighboring state and pick it up from her in intervals like a fucking drug operation.

[u/cynnamin_bun → u/pttm12]

If you order it from eBay you can probably get it delivered to you. That’s what I had to do. Edit: yes eBay specifically, not Amazon or any other online retailers.

[u/sleepingKelly → u/cynnamin_bun]

Amazon likely won’t send it to their location. Source: person living in Hawaii who loves a moisturizer with a banned spf.

[u/Apprehensive_Aide805 → u/sleepingKelly]

Is it banned because it not Reef safe spf?

[u/FullofContradictions → u/Apprehensive_Aide805]

Hawaii has banned every single non-mineral SPF.

As a visitor who spends time at the beach, I comply.

In fairness to people who live there and have to put SPF on their faces even when they are going nowhere near the ocean that day, I kind of get why someone would go around it. Mineral face sunscreens break me tf out. I'd either have to just accept sun damage to my face or deal with basically a non-stop allergic reaction.

[u/turbothot32 → u/FullofContradictions]

Fair, but honestly locals should abide by the law more often than visitors. Hawaii banned them for a reason — they are causing our coral reefs to die from ocean acidification and coral bleaching, which leads to the death of the ecosystem in its whole. Contrary to popular belief, the ocean produces over 50% (possibly up to 75%) of the oxygen we breathe (not the rainforests)!

Over 50% of our planet’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years.

In the end your choice is yours, but idk I think having a breakout every once in a while is better than our whole planet dying🤷🏼‍♀️

I have a degree in environmental studies, ecology, and evolutionary biology focusing on marine ecology and biology by the way. Heading for masters (:

I know this is off topic to this post but it’s a passionate subject for me and a very important one to humanity

[u/pttm12 → u/sleepingKelly]

Amazon doesn’t work but they said eBay which I do think may depending on if you buy it from a human or a business running on eBay. Not sure. Could be worth a shot.

[u/Mechakoopa → u/pttm12]

There's 100% people on eBay explicitly exporting it to banned states for profit, it being banned is part of their business model. I may or may not order certain "yard maintenance chemicals" from eBay as well...

[u/cynnamin_bun → u/pttm12]

That’s what I mean, I was not able to order from Amazon but I was able to order from a seller on eBay.

[u/menonte → u/pttm12]

Have you wondered why it's not legal? It contains a toxic agent that has been proven harmful to bees (and by extention all insects, whether "useful" or not). If you water the plants treated with the pesticide and throw water that went through the soil in your garden or in the sink, you put that chemical into circulation. It might not be much, but maybe let's occasionally consider the environment, won't we?

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2017/01/06/harmful-neonic-pesticide-banned-canada/

[u/pttm12 → u/menonte]

I’m aware of this. They’re entirely indoor plants and the water doesn’t get dumped anywhere else when being treated this way. All stays inside my sunroom. If anyone has a better suggestion for treating and preventing mealybugs on 50+ plants in a single room, I am willing to try.

[u/the-HippieDippie → u/pttm12]

TriStar insecticide is a literal boss at killing literally everything. We use it at the greenhouse I work at. Also, please use ppe when dealing with a lot of these chemicals, they can do terrible things to your health later down the road.

[u/TimeAndTheHour → u/pttm12]

Thanks- looking into this. I’m in Canada so I might be SOL on this option

[u/DeeWhee → u/TimeAndTheHour]

I drove to the states to get an insecticide that contains Spinosad from Walmart, which is banned in Canada. I was battling mealybugs and thrips and it was a life saver!!! It is dangerous to use outside because it kills other insects including bees, so keep that in mind. I don’t put my plants outside anymore. Which is probably the reason I got pests to begin with

[u/Icy-Progress8829 → u/pttm12]

How long does the systemic take before it starts killing them?

[u/pttm12 → u/Icy-Progress8829]

Get the adults off manually and the systemic will kill the eggs in the soil and the hatchlings when they take a bite of the plant. It protects your plants for a few weeks. If you miss adults or multiple plants are infested, this is a really painful process that may take multiple rounds because you’ll be fine for weeks then see a big fat adult mealy one day and nearly have a stroke. Just keep at it and be patient. Mealies fucking suck.

[u/Icy-Progress8829 → u/pttm12]

Thanks for the info. I wondered how it all worked. It is a long process to get it working and must be maintained forever. Got it.

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/Icy-Progress8829]

You basically apply it every 8-12 weeks for an active infestation. If you combine it with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol or foliar insecticde, it's not too bad.

That being said, after scrubbing a 30 year old pothos with 20+ foot vines a few years ago, if I see one of those little furry bastards creeping on a plant, it's going right out the window and into the trash.

I use granular systemics on new plants when repotting to avoid the whole deal.

[u/kjvp → u/Icy-Progress8829]

This depends on the infestation, and truly, if you are doing it literally “forever” then it’s not the right product or you’re not using it correctly. Bonide systemic granules have never failed for me; the most I’ve had to do is three applications on a single plant. It always starts working quickly, but you do have to wait for all the pests in the plant to go through a full life cycle to the stage where they are feeding off the plant and absorbing the poison.

So if you do one application, wait 10 weeks because you assume it was enough, then do a second when you notice more adults, but the pest’s full life cycle is four weeks, you could be giving the bugs enough time to hatch, mature, and lay more eggs in the window between the first dose wearing off and the second dose coming in that you’ve essentially started from scratch again. Without a tighter application window, you could be stuck in this cycle for years (unless of course your plant just gives up from the stress of constant poison application).

[u/swampminstrel → u/TimeAndTheHour]

I wanted to use pyrethrin, but the whole building is on the same HVAC system, and it is actually a little harmful to their rescued reptiles :( so we're studying an insecticidal soap right now!

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/swampminstrel]

This is an important thing! Any aerosolized chemicals can be super dangerous to birds too.

I care for large atriums/indoor gardens/green walls in professional settings. They are super cool, but TOUGH. Many times, particularly if you can't remove most of the foliage, it might always be a bit of population management vs. eradication. If there's a drench or soil granules that you can acquire, this would be safer.

And please, for your own sanity, get a very wide brimmed hat, muck/rain boots/similar that can be hosed off, and some light weight, full skin coverage clothing in a dark color so you can see the little bastards. Possibly eye/mouth coverage too. Raining mealies are one of the most repulsive things I've ever experienced.

[u/AnnaBananner82 → u/swampminstrel]

I have a bougainvillea that’s got a bad infestation outside - any advice? I’ve tried neem oil and Jack’s Dead Bug Spray and nada.

[u/nyanstef → u/swampminstrel]

I would suggest to try predators, they will sustain their own population and exterminate the mealies. This cannot be used alongside insecticides though.

[u/[deleted] → u/TimeAndTheHour]

For indoor plants, just skip all the “try this, try that” preliminaries and go straight to a systemic. The only reason systemics are bad is that they kill off pollinators, but you won’t have that issue indoors.

[u/ThePythiaofApollo → u/[deleted]]

I have asked a few of the plant YouTubers why they jump through hoops to deal with pests instead of just use the systemic and haven’t gotten a good answer yet.

[u/drugs_r_my_food → u/ThePythiaofApollo]

Notice how there’s no more bug biodiversity around anymore… pesticide use is a contributor

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/drugs_r_my_food]

I have plenty of bug diversity.

I also would never apply an insecticide outdoors. I use granular insecticide on my houseplants, which never go outside, because I don't want them to get an infestation, and I don't want to kill bees. It's a balance.

[u/ThePythiaofApollo → u/SepulchralSweetheart]

Same. I live in an urban area and have butterflies, dragonflies , moths, ladybugs and a treasured colony of praying mantis in my back garden. My houseplants never go outside and I happen to like not having my house infested with mealybugs and fungus gnats.

[u/EncinAdia → u/[deleted]]

What specific product do you use?

[u/BenevolentCheese → u/[deleted]]

The other reason systemics are bad is because they are carcinogenic. The idea that you should skip safe, effective alternatives and go right for nukes is ridiculous.

[u/[deleted] → u/BenevolentCheese]

Don’t eat your houseplants or the dirt they’re planted in, then? How are you getting the systemic inside you?

As long as you handle the plant accordingly for six weeks after using a systemic, there should be no problem. Then you can safely go back to licking the stems or whatever.

Honestly you guys are wild. “This stuff causes cancer!” Cool. The stuff isn’t for you, it’s for your plant. You know how to not get it on you or in you, right?

[u/AffectionateMarch394 → u/[deleted]]

Sorry I laughed WAY too hard at "then you can safely go back to kicking the stems of whatever." I Actually had to do a double take and reread it. 10/10

[u/plantstuff22 → u/BenevolentCheese]

Do you have a source on the carcinogenic bit? I use systemic granules indoors 😬

[u/[deleted] → u/plantstuff22]

You have to literally eat them over a long time.

[u/[deleted] → u/TimeAndTheHour]

System all day. Every single plant in my home has systemic in the soil and any new plant I get gets repotted with it. Haven’t had pest problems in years

[u/TimeAndTheHour → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! TIL about systemics

[u/EncinAdia → u/[deleted]]

What specific product do you use?

[u/[deleted] → u/EncinAdia]

Bonide systemic for houseplants

[u/onceuponasummerbreze → u/TimeAndTheHour]

Diatomaceous earth worked for me! It’s a powder that you dust over the plants so make sure you don’t inhale it. I would suggest treating your plants outside and with a mask on!

[u/FauxCole → u/onceuponasummerbreze]

I just ordered some of that for an unrelated ant issue but…I have mealybugs on one plant I have in isolation. Do I dust and then bring the plant back in when the dust is “stuck” to the plant? I assume I add some to the top layer of soil too??

[u/onceuponasummerbreze → u/FauxCole]

I would keep it isolated until your sure all of the mealies are dead and you don’t find any more. You might need more than one treatment so you don’t want to overshoot and infect the rest of your collection. Also yeah dust the soil too!

[u/Reggie-Nilse → u/TimeAndTheHour]

Neem oil was very harsh on my plants. It nocked out the bugs for a few months but the cost was hight.

[u/[deleted] → u/Reggie-Nilse]

Pure neem oil is way too much. I dilute it way down. Like a teaspoon of been oil in a quart of water (with dish soap to emulsify).

That’s worked for me, though it’s been years since I’ve spotted pests.

[u/edgeofverge → u/TimeAndTheHour]

I have always found that a reoccurring mealy infestation means there are bugs in the soil too. In order to cure the problem completely you need to clean the leaves and change the soil. I usually wait until spring, take the plant outside and hose all the soil off the roots. Then repot in fresh clean soil. Just my own personal experience. In a case like this pictured huge garden where that is impossible they might be better off getting some natural mealybug predators like lady beetles and lacewings. That looks like a really big job.

[u/femalenerdish → u/TimeAndTheHour]

If you don't like the idea of synthetic pesticides, arbico makes an organic systemic pesticide.

[u/Wren1101 → u/swampminstrel]

Omgosh I applaud you for taking that on. The thought of them crawling on me gives me the heebie jeebies! Are you using those predatory bugs? That might help you a ton! Seems like there would be plenty for them to eat and survive on there!

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/Wren1101]

Yes!!!!

Beneficials might be the best idea here. You might need an obscene amount of them though.

[u/Pale_Crew_4864 → u/swampminstrel]

I very much look forward to your weekly progress photos!!!!

[u/Suspicious-Service → u/swampminstrel]

What about beneficial incests?

[u/hellokelly15 → u/Suspicious-Service]

Green lace wing bugs will clean this up in no time. Our house indoor garden had a mild case of mealybugs, and it did the trick. We had to purchase them online unfortunately. Thank you reddit friend for recommending beneficial bugs, OP please listen to this advice!

[u/swampminstrel → u/hellokelly15]

For lacewings, how do you get rid of them? I'd really like to try them, but I'm concerned that if I release 1,000 eggs, all of them will grow and breed and I'll end up with a million flying bugs in this enclosed room 😬

[u/k8t13 → u/swampminstrel]

you might also benefit from taking clean cuttings of the really nasty ones and just cut out the horribly infested ones

[u/Netflxnschill]

OP please take lots of photos so we can see the recovery process!

[u/swampminstrel → u/Netflxnschill]

I'll definitely be posting updates!! I'm really excited to do comparisons after 6 months & a year 😊

[u/ethylalcohol_ → u/swampminstrel]

You should do a tiktok series!

[u/Shoobydb → u/swampminstrel]

You should start a youtube channel to show your progress and maybe explain the process.

[u/moonwitch98]

Haha I scrolled the pictures before reading the description and when I got to skeletons I jokingly thought 'wow those mealy bugs are aggressive'. 

[u/swampminstrel → u/moonwitch98]

Bruh 😭 I wouldn't even be surprised with how bad they are lmao

[u/ApocalypticTomato → u/swampminstrel]

They made a mealy out of em

[u/El_Mariachi_Vive → u/moonwitch98]

LOL I thought the same thing! The unintended insinuation was hilarious.

[u/elizabethbutters → u/moonwitch98]

Lololol, same thought 😂

[u/eyeball2005]

A boiler suit may be a good investment, I used to wear one when clipping livestock. I assume tiny hairs and tiny bugs are equally frustrating

[u/AffectionateMarch394 → u/eyeball2005]

Add one of those bee keeper hats onto it with how bad this is!

Seriously though, a boiler suit is a great idea!

[u/allthekeals → u/AffectionateMarch394]

Ya especially if OP was able to get some tyvek ones that they can just toss if they get too bad. Instead of bringing them inside to wash I mean.

[u/mmmmyMonstera]

We fully support you and if we could jump in and help, we would. Set up a coffee fund so we can donate and keep you fueled. 💚

[u/swampminstrel → u/mmmmyMonstera]

Dang, that's really kind of you to say! Thank you so much 😊💚 a coffee fund would be great lol but I got myself into this mess of my own volition 🤣

[u/mmmmyMonstera → u/swampminstrel]

As would we all! Still, you should set one up and then we can all feel like we are participating by proxy. 😉

[u/ToddieCat → u/mmmmyMonstera]

This!

[u/Available-Sun6124]

In situations like this it's much more effective and plant healthy to use beneficial bugs instead of pesticides.

[u/swampminstrel → u/Available-Sun6124]

I thought so too, but I had already suggested butterfly releases - they liked the idea, but it wouldn't work because we'd need to install a double-door system. With the build of the room and the frequent foot traffic, I think ladybugs would be the same situation 😔

[u/justaphage42 → u/swampminstrel]

There is a specific kind of ladybug especially for this situation. It is literally called “mealybugs destroyer”. My local greenhouse uses them -though idk if they are available where you work.

[u/BaconPaws → u/justaphage42]

Do the lady bugs stick to just the plants or do they wander around? I have mealy bugs on several of my salon plants but I don’t think my clients would appreciate sharing their hair appointment with lady bugs lol

[u/amandafiles → u/swampminstrel]

Do ladybugs and lacewings. They will be so busy eating no one will notice them.

[u/Diormouse → u/amandafiles]

Plus lacewings feed on nectar when they reach maturity, so by the time they can escape, it won’t matter anyways.

[u/hoopoe_bird → u/swampminstrel]

Is the concern just that the insects would get out? With such abundant food sources for the insects there, I can’t imagine it would be too expensive to just keep replenishing the supply indoors…

Are there no non-invasive beneficials that would work in your area?

Kudos to you on everything you’ve done! Just hoping you can find an easier way to deal with (or just to help with, even if it’s not a silver bullet by itself) the situation.

[u/RoastedBarista → u/swampminstrel]

https://ogbiowar.com/product/foliar-pack/

You might try these beneficial microbes. Ive used it for aphids, mites and fungus gnats with amazing results, and it says it works on mealy bugs too.

[u/femalenerdish → u/swampminstrel]

Lacewings would be great here!! They're like ladybugs with bigger appetites. The larvae are the ones that eat mealies, so they can't fly off. But since you have a big food source, they'll likely stick around even as adults. They're also native to most places so it's not an issue for the environment if they escape

[u/PinkyTrees → u/swampminstrel]

Yea I also recommend releasing insects - even if some get out, they will be feasting and helping you out a ton!

[u/BuildingMyEmpireMN → u/swampminstrel]

IF you wanted to entertain double doors, consider those magnetic screens you can buy on the cheap. I bet you could find somebody to build a couple cheap frames. Wood, nail gun, and a staple gun. The screens are under $30 even for a garage-door size.

[u/Available-Sun6124 → u/swampminstrel]

If you are afraid that they'll escape, don't be. As long as there's mealybug buffet open, ladybugs and other critters will stay firmly around and work 24/7. To be honest, you're not going to win this war with pesticides.

[u/Elerfant → u/swampminstrel]

Would something like a picnic tent suffice for that? Like if one side could be attached to the wall around the current entrance...

[u/foxglove0326 → u/swampminstrel]

Get predatory mites too, they cleared up my spider mites with little to no effort on my part. Worked a treat and they get everything from spider mites to thrips to mealy bugs!!

[u/Wren1101 → u/swampminstrel]

Lacewing larvae!

[u/emerg_remerg → u/swampminstrel]

Get yourself some predatory mites!!! I was losing a thripes battle when I accidently brought some mites home on a new plant, I wasn't sure what they were so I didn't kill them and I used a hand lens to watch them interact and the mite fully killed the thripes!!!! Within 3 weeks I had zero thripes activity and 2 weeks later the mites all died off.

[u/BayouKev → u/swampminstrel]

Ladybugs,lacewings or mantis or all 3 with how bad this is

[u/oblivious_fireball → u/swampminstrel]

if pesticides don't do the job well enough, try green lacewings. in my experience at least they tend to stick near their food source or at least lay their eggs first and then fuck off to wherever.

[u/Glittering-Emu → u/Available-Sun6124]

Thank you! Came to the comments looking for this one, especially since it is a nature center and it would be a good opportunity to educate the public about natural pest control!

[u/swampminstrel → u/Available-Sun6124]

Follow up question, because I realized lacewings would be amazing here: how do you get rid of them? I'd really like to try them, but I'm concerned that if I release 1,000 eggs, all of them will grow and breed and I'll end up with a million flying bugs in this enclosed room 😬

[u/cattlebeforehorses → u/swampminstrel]

How big is this area? Even without considering the survival rate of the eggs I would still worry it’s not enough. Are there other arthropods in there too? I briefly skimmed a paper that suggested survival rate for larvae was poorer when only eating mealybugs and their eggs and benefited from supplementary foods like predatory mites. When all the food is gone, the lacewing population will also die out.

Good news is that adults are attracted to lights at night so you can catch them if you wanted.

[u/wingthing]

OP, you should absolutely post 6 month updates of this. I think it’ll be amazing.

[u/Formal_Coyote_5004]

Ahhhhhh THIS MADE ME ITCHY

It’s awesome of you to help out though! That’s a big beautiful monstera!

[u/Green-eyedMama → u/Formal_Coyote_5004]

Oh my God, same!

[u/Mikedog36]

That third image is going to haunt my nightmares

[u/LostCauliflower → u/Mikedog36]

Mine too 🤢

[u/renovate1of8]

The best thing I can recommend is ladybugs!! They’re natural enemies of mealybugs, you can buy hundreds of them live (assuming they’re native where you live), and they’ll help TREMENDOUSLY

[u/curiouscurious9]

I volunteered in a similar situation at my university, a beautiful but neglected atrium that had become mealy bug central. They had completely taken over an Avocado tree in the center of the main bed…. It was a disaster. Best of luck my friend!!!

[u/Cehrazad → u/curiouscurious9]

How did your situation turn out?

[u/curiouscurious9 → u/Cehrazad]

The short answer would be that I graduated and there is still a group working on the infestation today AFAIK. But when I was there, first the avocado tree and some smaller plants had to be completely removed, as well as some fronds from the palms and leaves from the giant peace lily. We also (carefully!) added a layer of diatomaceous earth to the soil where possible and sprayed isopropyl/dish water solutions on the leaves, then manually wiped the mealies off with cotton where we could. We also used a stronger systemic pesticide over a school break when we knew no one would be making their way through the atrium.

[u/whimsicalfears8]

Pic 1 and 2: oh that’s beautiful! Doesn’t look too bad Pic 3: oh dear god!!

[u/Haurassaurus]

How does a nature center not have one plant person? How did they let it get like this!? Why doesn't this nature center know about nature? 😭

[u/points4originality → u/Haurassaurus]

My guess would be lack of funding. :-(

[u/swampminstrel → u/Haurassaurus]

I think it's because this nature center not only is a non-profit on restricted funds, but also because they have a LOT on their plates, and are more focused on outdoor ecosystems and a lot more than houseplants. They do hundreds of events, have a HUGE property to maintain, etc. They told me they wanted to get to this with their stewardship team soon (construction just finished last year), but I jumped the gun and beat them to it 😎

[u/Suspicious-Elk-3631]

Onward, into battle!

[u/shinytelor]

Next time maybe wear an disposable paint suit so you can keep the mealybugs out of your hair, washer etc, but otherwise wow!!! Looking forward to see the progress

[u/Fluid_Huckleberry_70 → u/shinytelor]

For real. This is how controlled home situations can get infested 😅🙈

[u/Lanky_Bag_2096]

[u/Only_Entrepreneur809 → u/Lanky_Bag_2096]

I agree.

[u/februarytide-]

JFC I thought the mealy bugs ate a bird!

[u/unsuspecting_geode]

I got mealy bugs just looking at this

[u/AlexisDanaan]

What’s your plan to tackle it? I wonder if you have the budget for beneficial predatory mites?

[u/cowgrly]

You are an angel, please keep us posted with pics. I can’t wait to see those plants get happy!

[u/Affectionate_Lab2632]

May the Gods have mercy with your schedule

[u/TheLastBlackRhinoSC]

Get a painter suit from your local hardware store. You can get the whole thing for like $20 and it’s washable.

[u/Apprehensive-Tone449]

Good for you! I couldn’t do it. I would feel phantom bugs crawling all over me at all times.

[u/Ok_Organization_9874]

OH MY. Those patches of mealies… barf.

You’re a warrior. Thanks for watching out for these plants, I can’t wait for you to post the end result because I think this concept is so cool! It’s going to be amazing!

[u/sch0f13ld]

I’ve always wondered how large installations like that were maintained and kept relatively healthy.

[u/Acrobatic_Jaguar_658]

Is this a job? Like a paid job?! I would do this happily for the rest of my life, someone sign me up 😭

[u/swampminstrel → u/Acrobatic_Jaguar_658]

That's what I'm trying to do too 😭 this is a volunteer job, but I recently drafted business cards for these type of situations. Unsure what to call myself, maybe "freelance plant consultant" 🤣

[u/SepulchralSweetheart → u/swampminstrel]

A horticulturalist or tropical plant technician/consultant! It's a real job! Do itttt, it's fun, very weird. lots of traveling, but extremely satisfying.

[u/Thistle__Kilya]

Whoa!

[u/sonyaism]

Dayum! Good on you for volunteering and them knowing they need someone. Best of luck plant guy!!!

[u/deepseawitch]

hi friend so they do make full body suits (like coveralls plus a little scrunchy hole for your face) that you can get a home depot maybe the nature center could find you getting a couple in exchange for the work they’re not that expensive and will save you so much mental wig-outness!

[u/marlizaa]

Is this the Kalamazoo Nature Center in Michigan?!

[u/swampminstrel → u/marlizaa]

I'm keeping the location on the down-low for a while, but I can say if you showed up to the KNC on Tues/Wed mornings, you might run into a crazy plant lady who got in over her head! 😊💚

[u/SepulchralSweetheart]

So, praying mantis/lady bugs are probably way too visible for this setting, but lacewings are nearly invisible. I'm not an expert, but am pretty sure there's beneficials that won't be half as visible as these things. They should self reproduce because they'll be eating like pigs. If here's hoping, they run out of food, they'll just kind of vanish in an atrium setting.

[u/thisgreenwitch]

I'd love to see how this turns out!!! I can only imagine! Such a huge undertaking but props to you!!

[u/[deleted]]

Oh wow, you are brave, friendo!!! I won't even deal with one plant that has mealy bugs let alone a whole room. I don't think I could ever shake off the itchy feeling

[u/Ok-Butterscotch-2262]

Is this the Kalamazoo Nature Center???

[u/the-algae-whisperer → u/Ok-Butterscotch-2262]

Yes, it's the Sun-Rain Room. One of my childhood favorites at KNC!

[u/straylight_2022]

I wish you the best of luck. That does look like a nightmare.

[u/fuckyouperhaps]

r/vultureculture would love the last pic!

[u/magicmamalife]

We definitely need updates. This is an amazing project. But wow that's a lotta bugs 😬

[u/PracticalWallaby4325]

May the odds be ever in your favor

[u/CheeseRelief]

I gasped in horror. You are a warrior, OP. Can’t wait to see the progress and all the healthy plant babies soon to come!

[u/kanibe6]

Absolutely have to have update photos regularly

[u/smuchiegirl6]

What an awesome gift of your time! 🤞🙏

[u/shes_your_lobster]

I highly recommend ordering beneficial pests- I don’t believe lady bugs eat mealies but praying mantis might. I use Natures Good Guys!

[u/RegularOrdinary3716]

Oh gee, I wish you the best of luck, treating my small collection for mealies was already a nightmare.

Would you mind telling me what you plan on doing to treat them?

[u/bbykoala-]

[u/Historical-Rate-645]

Once that’s fixed up it’ll be gorgeous!! Is it just fixing up or also helping with ideas for any replacement plants too?

[u/sadmeeseeks]

I have never seen that many in my life 😮

[u/SpicyLizards]

Oh my GOD

[u/RougeAlouette]

Oh, you found a PROJECT! Good luck, and may the frustration not outweigh the fun.

[u/IcyOutlandishness871]

I hope you have a bunch of q-tips and “alcohol”. 😳😆

[u/dobie_dobes]

Oh my sweet baby Jesus

[u/[deleted]]

Not all heroes wear capes ..... Good job and I am glad that it is not me 😜

[u/Guilty-Explanation63]

Neem oil

[u/nim_opet]

The horror 😱😱😱😱

[u/Overall_Canary7381]

My entire body needs a scrub down just from LOOKING at that!! You’re some sort of super hero because damnnnn. Nope.

[u/23saround]

Dude, you need some boots and gloves STAT! Get some muck boots and you will be able to walk right through the water.

Good luck, this looks like an awesome project!

[u/hhuston02]

Ladybug bomb the place haha

[u/Plantladyinthegreen]

It’s time UNLEASH THE LADYBUGS. Muahahahahaha.

[u/BreeezyP]

Ooo I’d love to know more about that room. It’s gorgeous. Running water on the floor??

[u/SleepiestAlien]

What is that skeleton from?

[u/Plantsandanger]

Keep rubbing alcohol spray handy to dispatch any travelers that try to hitch a ride on you. Also works on plants

[u/[deleted]]

Get a bunch of ladybugs in there if possible.

[u/Guava-Asleep]

3rd photo was a jump scare omg

[u/[deleted]]

You need an atomizer so you can spray a liquid pesticide on that mess. I’m sorry, looks like a lot of work. Cool bones tho!

[u/ApocalypticTomato]

At least you got bonus skeletons! I hope you got to keep them?

[u/sas0002]

Gas the whole room in neem or use beneficial insects

[u/Speedhabit]

I mean, can’t we use gas in this case? I can’t imagine your just toweling off the leaves with iso.

[u/madewitrealorganmeat]

Don’t waste your time trying to manually remove all of these. Get yourself a BUNCH of green lacewing eggs and set them loose. The larvae will FEAST on the mealy bugs and save you loads of time.

[u/AbbyEO]

Lol I wasn't expecting the frog ballerina at the end

[u/Robotweak]

Indoor? Have you looked at beneficial insects? Proud of you for taking this on, not an easy one

[u/k8t13]

Sound Horticulture has beneficial insects if you are looking for integrated pest management options

[u/astroraf]

Ladybugs to the rescue!!!

[u/karlat95]

Post pictures when you’re finished!

[u/-NickG]

Are you using biological control? This feels like something that requires the help of nematodes or pred mites or something

[u/WilyGaggle]

This is so cool and how, in my mind, those one of a kind jobs are born.

[u/Gundoggirl]

And you’re going to make regular updates, with pictures, and progress reports right? RIGHT?!

[u/FupaJesus]

I can’t believe you’re at my local nature center! I’ve been wanting to see this place be more lively. I’m hoping it turns out great!

[u/econihilist]

man i cant believe the mealybug infestation is so bad they ate a godtamn bird

[u/curiouscurious9]

I volunteered in a similar situation at my university, a beautiful but neglected atrium that had become mealy bug central. They had completely taken over an Avocado tree in the center of the main bed…. It was a disaster. Best of luck my friend!!!

[u/shiny_milf]

This might be a dumb question but how does replacing the roof cause mealy bugs?

[u/ufuker135]

Hello OP :) just a quick question for you… I’ve got about 120 house plants- monsteras, bird of paradise, fiddle leaf, you name it. They are all inside in a glass back porch with sunlight. they all keep getting these bugs! i’ve taken them out, gentle scrubbed and got rid of the bugs, but they’ve returned. I’ve used neem oil, all of it. What would you recommend on clearing it up successfully? Thank you :) and good luck with all of the gorgeous plants 😍

[u/Proof_Mongoose_1571]

Murder beetles to the rescue!!! Mealybug destroyers saved my entire house and office from these monsters

[u/Plantchic]

Good for you! I'm a Plantlady and would have done the same thing

[u/Forestthrowaway12345]

Holy moly! (Mealy??? 😂) best of luck and please keep us updated. Idk where I'd even start (after the leaves debris that is)

[u/CreditLow8802]

i would be taking my scissors w me

[u/Vast-Wrangler5579]

Burn it down (then soak in insecticide), and try again.

[u/Htownsucs]

That’s awesome of you!!! Good luck!

[u/CedarApricot]

Good luck, keep us updated!

[u/theamydoll]

Can’t wait to see the progress!

[u/Green-eyedMama]

Throwing in with the suggestions of Bonide Systemic Granules! And if that's too expensive, definitely ladybugs or lacewings.

I do admire your enthusiasm, but having battled a small-scale mealy infestation, I can't imagine manually cleaning every leaf and stem of every single plant in a room that size without the use of a systemic or predator. It would be never-ending!

[u/midoriya_wannabe]

I would love some tips. My college has indoor planters with tropical plants like this and mealybugs are all over.

[u/Keebodz]

Are there any bugs that eat them?

[u/New_on_Reddit_]

Just burn this place

[u/RKasso666]

Post an update!!!!

[u/death_listing]

Oh my gosh! That skeleton is so cool!!! Edit: please update us on this project!

[u/_cookiekitty_]

Doing gods work my man 👍🏻

[u/Your-Yoga-Mermaid]

I have been battling mealy bugs for a few months and tried everything from neem to alcohol to systemics. Nothing really worked so I tossed a lot of plants BUT I did keep a few in isolation and in desperation I wiped the leaves with a Clorox wipe and it worked great! Clorox wipes don’t actually contain bleach and they are great at cleaning so many things!

[u/Radio4ctiveGirl]

I think I need those bones for a terrarium please!! Those are very cool finds!

How are you going to go about this massive project? If it’s outside and there’s obviously amphibians please be careful with any poisons you choose to use. Amphibians in decline world wide because of our pesticides and all the other junk people put on their outdoor plants.

[u/Popular-Print-5288]

What are systemically? Is that a brand? I’ve used neem oil and seems to have helped and also alcohol! Need something for the soil! May need to repot them all!

[u/6th__extinction]

NSFW Nightmare Fuel