u/Alone_Sheepherder896 — reddlx

TLDR: Fool proof non-organic ways to eliminate mealybugs from both plant and soil, preferably without having to repot the plant. If you've used systemic insecticides before, do they work? Which one should I get and how to use them? I've tried neem oil and alcohol. It didn't last.

Background: I was gifted a parlour palm plant a few months ago. I am very new to plant-care but I've subsequently been able to grow a sizeable collection of indoor plants from cuttings found in the wild (mostly pothos, one syngonium, rest are propogations)

About a month ago, I purchased a jade from the nursery because I couldn't find a cutting to propogate. Little did I know that I was bringing a monster into my home. I had never dealt with mealybugs before but google told me to submerge the plant in soap and neem oil water, and change the soil. But my plant didn't survive.

I had isolated my parlour palm the same day I discovered the mealybugs to prevent it from getting infested but alas, it got infected too. I drenched the plant in neem oil spray daily for 5 days. But a week later, I saw the bugs reappear again. Did the spray again, and they came back again.

I feel so defeated. This plant was somebody's baby for three years and they kept it alive and healthy. It used to be so full and luscious. They trusted me with it and now it's slowly dying in my care. It is losing leaves every other day, and new growth is pale and also has brown marks on it. I'm in tears as I type this because I don't know how to save it. Please help me. I don't want it to die like my syngonium did. I don't want to throw it away. Please tell me how to save my little boy.

I googled a little and found out about diatomaceous earth, does it really remove them from soil too? Or are chemical insecticides my only option to blast them till kingdom come?

This plant is very very sensitive to repotting (lost a bunch of leaves when I repotted it the first time) so I would prefer if I don't have to change the soil, but if it's my only option, I'll do it.

Please help me, I'm desperate.

Thanks in Advance.

Location: Bangalore. Plant receives medium-bright indirect sunlight for 6-7 hours a day. Current soil is a mix of cocopeat, perlite, and vermicompost in 1:1:1 ratio in a ceramic pot. I water it when the top 25% soil is dry. The picture is from when I received it.