Hi,
It the office one of the plants suddently got some white flakes on it, it looks like an serious condition.
Anyone know what this is and how to cure it?
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steffenland
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Plant with white eggs
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applestar
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It's a bit hard to tell from these photos, but they could be mealybugs -- a sucking pest insect that cover themselves with foam-like waxy white coating. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and touch them, then swipe to see if they come off. This will not harm the plant. You can proceed to clean off the entire infestation with alcohol-dipped cotton swab(s).
In the office, you could raid the first aid kit for a little packet of alcohol wipe if that is easier.
In the office, you could raid the first aid kit for a little packet of alcohol wipe if that is easier.
Mealy bugs or scale. Also bait for ants. The waxy coating is hard to get through with topical pesticides. It is a dracena marginata. You can dip it or try a jet of water. I the mealy bugs are not on the stems, then top it and toss the top in a bag and trash it. It will grow a new top. If it is indoors, repot it to make sure it does not have root mealybugs which are harder to get rid of and graduate it to outside as soon as the weather permits. I would also sanitize the area around the plants to make sure there are no ants and no mealy bugs left behind.