My Aspidistra elatior is suffering from a severe infestation of mealy bugs. I have treated the leaves with neem oil for a few months and removed any visible insects, but the mealy bugs have infested the soil. Yesterday, I removed the plant from the pot and thoroughly washed it; the rhizomes were coated with mealybugs. Its now potted again in fresh soil, but I believe I need a systemic to control the population. What are the most effective options (available in Canada) for controlling mealy bugs in the soil? Although I dislike the prospect of using toxic synthetics, without treatment I will have to discard a plant I have had for a number of years. I am not sure which plant the mealybugs arrived from, but while I can effectively control them on the other species through manual removal and neem, the cast iron serves as too effective of a reservoir for reinfestation.
To get rid of Root-mealy bug I usually make a solution of Horticulture oil (mineral oil) in a deep bucket. Submerge the pot,with plant in it, into the mixture and let the water rise up to the soil surface, then remove and let it drain. Repeat this once a week for 3-4 weks to maek sure the mealy bugs are gone. I use this method at the greenhouse I work in and it is very effective.
Just curious....are you planning on using your Neem oil for the solution that James described? In the past, I'd read quite a bit of information on the Internet about Neem oil being used as a systemic by 'watering it in' to your plants. Sorry I can't recall where I found that info...but I think I did a search using 'neem oil systemic' or something like that
