mealybugs on Philodendron Painted Lady
Quick answer
If your Philodendron Painted Lady has mealybugs, the most likely cause is: Mealybugs on philodendrons show up as white, cottony clusters tucked into the stem and leaf axils, where the insects pierce tender tissue and drain sap, leaving the foliage undersized and the new growth spindly. Kramer 1974 attributes the same cluster pattern and the spindly, undersized foliage to mealybugs feeding in the axils of potted philodendrons kept indoors where the pests travel in on new plants or on reused, unsterilized potting soil.
Start here:
- 1. Dip a cotton swab in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and touch each visible cottony cluster so the alcohol dissolves the waxy coating and kills the insect underneath, then rinse the canopy with clear tepid water after a few minutes.
- 2. For a heavier infestation spray the whole plant with a solution of equal parts water and rubbing alcohol, follow with a wash of soapy water and a clear rinse, and repeat every seven to ten days until no fresh cottony tufts appear in the axils.
Why Philodendron Painted Lady gets mealybugs
philodendron painted lady
Mealybugs on philodendrons show up as white, cottony clusters tucked into the stem and leaf axils, where the insects pierce tender tissue and drain sap, leaving the foliage undersized and the new growth spindly. Kramer 1974 attributes the same cluster pattern and the spindly, undersized foliage to mealybugs feeding in the axils of potted philodendrons kept indoors where the pests travel in on new plants or on reused, unsterilized potting soil.
How to reverse mealybugs on Philodendron Painted Lady
- 1
Dip a cotton swab in 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and touch each visible cottony cluster so the alcohol dissolves the waxy coating and kills the insect underneath, then rinse the canopy with clear tepid water after a few minutes.
- 2
For a heavier infestation spray the whole plant with a solution of equal parts water and rubbing alcohol, follow with a wash of soapy water and a clear rinse, and repeat every seven to ten days until no fresh cottony tufts appear in the axils.
Keep mealybugs off this Philodendron Painted Lady
Quarantine new philodendrons for two to three weeks before mixing them into the collection, wipe or mist the foliage weekly with clear tepid water to discourage settlers, and inspect the stem and leaf axils on a regular schedule so any mealybug colony is caught while it is still a single cottony tuft.