Surely, everyone adores the monsoon! Whether it is humans or plants, everybody cherishes bounty rains in the monsoon season. It is one of the most productive times for plants as they grow the most and produce beautiful flowers over these few months. But this season has its adverse effects as well. Plants generally get attacked by pests and insects in this season and there could be many reasons for that. It could be less sunlight and more humidity. These circumstances cause various plant problems like powdery mildew, root rot, spot-on leaves, etc. But one common problem that gardeners face is the attack of Mealy bugs on the plants. Mealy Bugs are white cottony insects on the plants that are most likely to attack through leaves and stem areas. These insects extract beneficial nutrients from plants and cause some problems like low growth, and yellowing of leaves.

Let’s get to know some reasons for this mealy bug infestation:

1. Humid Environment: Mealy bugs are more likely to occur during monsoon season as plants don’t receive proper sunlight to thrive and have to face the consequences of a humid climate.
2. Excessive Watering: Mealybugs love damp and humid environments. When we overwater plants, the excessive water leads to a damp environment which leads to mealy bugs.
3. Plants in Closed Indoor Environment: Proper air circulation is necessary for plants to experience proper growth. Lack of this air circulation develops a humid environment which is the root cause of the mealy bug attack.
4. Fertilization: When plants are overfertilized with high nitrogen fertilizers, then they tend to attract mealy bugs due to new tender growth.
5. Stressed Plants: Sometimes plants are being treated with low-quality soil and inadequate fertilizers. This results in essential nutrient deficiency that makes plants more stressed which is one of the common reasons for mealy bug infestation.
6. Contact with Contaminated Plants: Sometimes when a new plant comes in contact with any infested plant, mealy bugs generally spread onto the new plant as well. This physical contact makes it easier for mealybugs to spread from one plant to another.
7. Lack of Plant Care: Mealy bug infestation generally starts with a small area which, if go unnoticed, can spread to a larger area and sometimes become uncontrollable to cure.

These were the few reasons for mealy bug infestation which you might know or not. Now let’s understand some easy ways to deal with these pesky mealybugs.

1. Prune Heavily Infested Areas: Pruning infected areas of the plant helps in getting rid of mealy bugs up to an extent. This will remove only the affected parts, it won’t remove small bushes or eggs which might be present somewhere in or around the plant.
2. Regular Inspection: A regular inspection of all plants, especially during humid climates, reduces the chance of mealy bug infestation as it can be stopped at an early stage.
3. Strong Water Spray: A water spray with high pressure can remove mealy bugs from plants. It will only remove and wash off them from the plants but won’t kill them. It will be useful for some sturdy plants.
4. Organic Sprays: An organic spray is the best solution to kill and remove mealy bugs completely from the plants without harming them in any way. These sprays generally start showing their effect within 24 hours after the first spray and will tend to remove mealy bugs completely within 36-72 hours.
5. Repotting: Sometimes, the infestation is too much to control. In such cases, it is advised to clean the pots thoroughly or use a new pot. Roots must be cleaned properly and plants should be repotted in well-aerated soil.
6. Welcome Beneficial Insects: Adding some beneficial insects to the garden or the area surrounding the plants is a further method of getting rid of mealy bugs from the plants. These insects, which serve as mealy bug natural attackers, include lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps.

You may prevent mealy bugs from ruining your garden and ensure that your plants continue to grow year-round by attempting the aforementioned ways.