Plant Doctor Archive

Mealybug

I have a problem with mealybug in the soil in my flower garden. When I've needed to dig out a plant, I've sprayed the area with diluted Jeyes Fluid, but I haven't tried this on the roots of plants in the soil, because I'm afraid it might kill them.

You need to treat your garden soil by drenching it with Yates Orthene, which is available from garden centres. Make up the solution in a bucket and pour it over the ground. Leave for 6-12 hours, then drench the affected area with water to wash away any excess Orthene.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.