spine mealies outta control!

[tumamoc]

I came across this pair of cacti (and many, many more plants like it) this past weekend. Why would a C&S nursery knowlingly keep these plants out on the sales floor? And would they mention anything to the hapless victim who puts his money on the counter and doesn't know any better? Am I overreacting?

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[peterb]

the stuff of nightmares. and nurseries that sell this crap should be shut down. I know that sounds extreme, but all it takes is one infested plant to ruin a whole collection or make the use of fairly potent nicotinoids necessary.

peterb

[cactushobbyman]

I have been fighting them rascals for a while. I was thinking of a way to quarantine my new purchases within my greenhouse without a great deal of work or money. However, to keep the bugs under control, money maybe secondary.

[CactusBoss]

buy like 20 praying mantis egg sacs to eat them up , no lol just kidding although i use praying mantids to control pests outside so less end up inside

[iann]

Decorative

[daiv]

I suppose you would have to know the individual nursery. Gene at Living Stones would not sell me a Pterocactus that had a little mealy on it that I didn't even notice when I selected it. I actually would have been OK, but he wouldn't do it. Now I don't remember exactly, but I think he even suggested checking with Miles for the plant since he knew we were going to stop there too.

[CactusFanDan]

A little rubbing alcohol could clean them up fairly nicely. I would have done them a favour and taken them home and perked them up, but then that's rather risky, to say the least! Might have been worth a try, though. Did you say anything? I definitely would've at least pointed it out to them.

[tumamoc]

Believe me. They know. I think cactushobbyman hit the nail on the head. To really treat this problem, it will cost the nursery a lot of money (and potential sales).

[charlpic]

Keeping these two plants on the shelves makes no sense as it increases chances of propagation to their own stock and subsequently, to buyer's.

Already seen some smart*ss up here trying to sell me mealy-fuzz as cactus-wool! Clever enough to know some cacti have whool and unable to spot on mealies? I'm not buying it. The only garden center/flowerist carrying interesting plants near me often has mealies. I keep going and I very often find myself saying to clerks: "I would have taken it if it was for the mealies in nearby plants." But hey, they make their cacti-money on the glorious and lightning-fast sold grafted gymnos.

[Steve Johnson]

Believe me. They know. I think cactushobbyman hit the nail on the head. To really treat this problem, it will cost the nursery a lot of money (and potential sales).

Agricultural growers deal with pest problems on an economy of scale that would be at best difficult for wholesale and retail nurseries. Now look at the fact that c&s comprise about 5% of the retail plant business, and it's understandable why specialist nurseries could get hit especially hard if pest infestations break out. At that point it all depends on how the nursery people respond. If they at least try to get the problem under control as they help their customers that's one thing. But if they pretend that nothing's wrong (or they plain don't know -- in other words, ignorance), they're in the wrong business.

[daiv]

Well I would say that Mealy bugs aren't that hard to deal with and treatment isn't that costly. If they could water once a year with a systemic, that would end the problem and not be all that expensive. One retail bottle of Bayer tree and shrub would probably treat a whole greenhouse.

[Tiggy]

Well I would say that Mealy bugs aren't that hard to deal with and treatment isn't that costly. If they could water once a year with a systemic, that would end the problem and not be all that expensive. One retail bottle of Bayer tree and shrub would probably treat a whole greenhouse.

So What is the best treatment Daiv? Bayer tree and shrub what? And what is the best way of treating them if they do arrive. I have one plant that is worrying me and have treated it several times already but can't seem to rid it of them, I think it's mealeys anyway. Will post picture of plant tomorrow for more advice, as I am just wondering if I've misjudged it.
Susi

[Dmyerswny]

I'm having a problem with the little cheese hogs myself. A plant got into my collection late last year and was the epicenter. You can literally tell by the bugs how close they were to that one plant...

[tumamoc]

There are multiple generations of mealies on each plants. It's like they just gave up trying to combat the little buggers.

[Peterthecactusguy]

BTW I have never dealt with mealie bugs of any sort, are there ones that hang out on the tips of Stapeliad branches and around the roots just under the soil? At first I though an errant cocheneal was on there, but... I think it might have been mealies.. or something fuzzy and white and gross. I squished it and the liquid was brown, not red...