"Neem oil is a natural pesticide that coats soft-bodied pests and interferes with their ability to feed and reproduce. Used properly, it can eliminate mealybugs without the need for harsher chemicals."
"Wipe off as many mealies as you can with a cloth. Then dilute 1-2 tablespoons of neem oil in 1 litre of warm water, and add a drop of mild washing-up liquid. Spray thoroughly, including on the undersides of leaves. Repeat every 7-10 days for a few rounds, and isolate the plant while you're treating it."
"Neem oil can help control a small mealybug outbreak, but only with elbow grease and repeat treatments. For a heavy infestation, I'd reach for a chemical pesticide, and back it up with nematodes (tiny parasitic worms)."
Mealybugs are persistent pests that hide in leaf joints and roots while coating plants in white residue, causing sap loss, stunted growth, and rapid spread. Neem oil, a natural pesticide, works by coating soft-bodied insects and disrupting their feeding and reproduction. The treatment involves wiping off visible mealybugs, then spraying a diluted neem oil solution (1-2 tablespoons per liter of water with washing-up liquid) every 7-10 days. Application should avoid strong sunlight and include leaf undersides. Testing showed neem oil helps control small outbreaks but requires persistence and multiple treatments. For severe infestations, chemical pesticides combined with parasitic nematodes prove more effective.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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