Hoya Care Day! Cleaning, Repotting and Treating for Mealy Bugs

[@jessicapetrin1655]

And, God bless your soul for all your patience and perseverance with your plant collection. I admire you so much and you inspire me to not get so irritated at certain situations. I see how beautiful they all look and it encourages me to chill out a bit and enjoy more lmao. 😅😂❤

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you 🥹 I used to get stressed out a lot more especially when dealing with pests but I definitely learned not to panic as much. The plants will be okay and I can get rid of the pests in some time 💗

[@JustPanss]

Idk why I love repotting /watching people repot plants. It’s just so nice seeing how the roots have grown and seeing them in their new pot. I just think it is a nice experience. I know a lot of people don’t like repotting but I love it! 💚

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! I love watching repotting too! 🥰

[@Mayla.and.plants]

Me too 😅🩵🌱

[@sherylgrant2248]

I'm so glad you decided to give your lovely hoyas some love and attention, and that it made you feel so good at the end of it.

[@kathleenhall3868]

Watching this Summer 2024 ... burst out laffing at your sweet voice telling us you were going to scrub the cr*p out of the first hoya. You go, girl.

[@kellymitchell1154]

I have taken my big Hoyas like that and soaked the entire thing in bin. Works well. With peroxide and water.

[@lisaanglim9588]

Oh my ! That’s a huge retusa! I’m down to one stem but it’s green now. All the yellow fell off. I’ve got in stratum but I need to check the roots.

[@DamianPerry25]

That was a full on battle against the mealybug! I love all the care that you give to your plants. I just finished repotting some of my plants and I put my Marantha Leuconeura in water to propagate like you showed us in another video 🩷

[@plantsbymelissa]

Aw thank you! Good luck with your maranta!!

[@mid_century_meows]

40:24 your kitty on the counter was trying to touch you with paw ❤awww

[@lindalester3642]

I am so thankful that I found you on U Tube I did my first cutting on my manjula pothos and let it root in water and them put it in dirt I have never done anything like this before until I started to watch your channel. Thank you so much.

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! 🥺🫶🏻 good luck with your manjula!

[@berenicecarbajal9229]

I love how you clean up you plants! I’m the same way if I see a yellow/ yellowing leaf I clip it right off! Lol most KZbinrs leave them and I just want to go through the screen and clip them off for them 🤣

[@plantsbymelissa]

oh I have to prune them off all the time! haha. I know you're supposed to leave them until they go naturally but I don't care. I will even prune off leaves that are still green if they bother me. It makes me feel better not looking at yellowing leaves!

[@maryperry5910]

Me too! Don't like unruly, ugly leaves.

[@berenicecarbajal9229]

@@plantsbymelissa agree! And plants look so much prettier cleaned up 🪴💚😊

[@amylokers4942]

Melissa I really admire your patience with all the manly bugs in your highest I definitely probably would have threw the first one away I would have tossed it and started over took a cutting and started over something You have a lot of patience

[@lucysalas1949]

Hi Melissa, when I had a string of pearls that kept getting mealies, I put it outside and when I brought it back in for the winter, the plant was clean, stronger and never had a problem again.

[@plantsbymelissa]

I thought about banning them outside and letting nature take care of them but didn't want more plants to have to bring in soon and then get other pests that could come inside 😬

[@maryperry5910]

I do the same. If a plant continuously has pests... out it goes. Not even my screen porch...outside your banned you troublemaker! Lol. Nature does her thing and they somehow recover then she allowed (eventually) to come back in the house after her recoup

[@tashriqsplnter294]

I eventually got so sick of looking for mealies that i just gave up and dunked the whole plant in a bucket of isopropyl alcohol and left it submerged for a few minutes. Havent had any problems since. Now its part of me repotting routine

[@shanonporter4041]

Beautiful plants!! Im jealous.

[@FaithRickett]

Well this was perfect for me to watch today…. I found mealies on my SOH just yesterday! I didn’t know what they were, but I knew they weren’t good 😆 I sprayed it down like crazy with neem oil, and I don’t see any more of them. But I will keep an eye on it and do the alcohol thing if I need to!

[@plantsbymelissa]

good luck!! hopefully they are gone!!

[@sherrykumar2883]

I did the same thing to my Hoyas this summer and it was the cure to the infestation I had. I still find a mealy here and there and I spray it with straight 70% alcohol. I love my hoyas again 💚

[@plantsbymelissa]

Glad it worked well for you!! I am hoping they are gone but definitely wouldn't be surprised if a couple popped up. I know, I feel like I appreciate them more now 🥺

[@lisaanglim9588]

That shepherdii looks fantastic mine has four leaves.

[@joyfulgirlrecovery7526]

Wow you’re incredible- I struggle with patience! Your face while you’re cleaning that plant is … so relatable. I found some mealies today and aphids and just wanted to throw the plants out the window and cry on the floor. But I had seen part of this video back when you posted it and remembered to dunk the plant …. So thanks!

[@dora9368]

I like it trailing too, but the trellis looks okay 👍

[@dianespring3228]

Melissa that what I did made a bath of dawn dish water and just gave the hole plant a bath worked wonders and my plant was fine you’re such a good plant parent

[@karinakeeme8246]

Love your dedication to all your beautiful plants. MEALYS are tramatizing to me lol. I was so worried about any jumping in your hair 😅. But hope u get them under control!

[@plantsbymelissa]

UGH they were dropping all over the table. It was SO gross and I don't know why I didn't put my hair up lol. I definitely thought about tossing the bad ones but then I remember how long they had been with me and I still loved them to give up on them 🥹

[@sammiesmallz6764]

I'm obsessed with the heart shaped trellis, Can you link your heart trellis? PLEASE PLEASEEEEE I saw the circle ones on your Amazon store but I really would love the heart shape trellis

[@Xee228]

Hi Melissa I love the long videos... Thank you!

[@plantsbymelissa]

Glad you like them!

[@DoraTheExplora50]

Your so patient through all this

[@bflyrenee]

Uggghhh mealy’s are so bad right now I can’t get rid of them either, alcohol on a qtip daily. I’m watching to see how you treat. So annoying! My compacta is covered.

[@lisaanglim9588]

Do you always have to change the potting soil when you’ve found a few mealies on it? I haven’t done that. But you talked about repotting Hoyas and cleaning bugs.

[@planttherapy1860]

You're an inspiration for me! I am not afraid to take on those mealies with a vengeance! 😂

[@plantsbymelissa]

🫶🏻☺️

[@eckehareckbert2731]

My husband also gets home by 5pm so I need to clear up things before he shows up 😊

[@jadeskymoon]

I love your channel! For mealies, what zapped mine was letting the plant dry out, removed all the soil and then dunked the whole root ball for 15 minutes in soapy water with a squirt of neem oil...they all died. Hoping that helps ❤

[@jpgypsyxo]

I’ve heard that for hoya, wrapping the vines counterclockwise and using orchid spray can promote growth and blooms. I personally haven’t experimented due to the fact that my Hoya aren’t vining yet! They are still lil babies. ❤ And I’d also say def not to feel bad for changing the soil.. there’s a good chance any of them could have root mealies. It’s worth the risk.

[@eltonjohnfan100]

This is very true!! In nature they like counter clockwise and they bloom year round for me!

[@kristarepp2607]

Your Hoyas are so lush! Crossing my fingers for you that the mealies are totally gone!

[@TimMartin-ov6jf]

Have you ever thought about using small tomato cages for larger hoyas? I have done this and had amazing results, and much faster growth!

[@plantsbymelissa]

Never thought of this! Thanks for sharing!!

[@moore_hd1676]

I’m so glad you posted this. I just had my first run in with mealies a few weeks ago and I’ve already lost two plants. It’s so disheartening. I feel like I’m constantly checking my other plants for any signs of them. I’m definitely going to try your soaking method next time!

[@plantsbymelissa]

Sorry about your 2 plants! Pests can be so frustrating sometimes and all the extra checking and prevention you have to do. It will happen no matter what but if you treat them early then you have a better chance at getting rid of them 🫶

[@marierejoiceinjesus3846]

Why not use systemic, dead bug brew, etc. on the mealy bugs? I use beneficials too, but I would definitely use some serious stuff on an infestation like that.

[@amyjomaitland699]

Your husband had me cracking up!! And as always, love the video!

[@plantsbymelissa]

hehe he didn't know I was filming right there

[@TropicsandDesert]

I love for my plants to hang down from the pot. It just looks beautiful like that to me. I'm just glad i caught the mealy bugs that came on a haworthia I got once before they got on others. It was so bad, I had to throw that plant out. I hope yours do well. I"m about to use some systemic pesticide because something has taken a bite out of my silver sword philodendron, and I dont see anything on the plant.

[@fatimagibsonhenley2281]

It was a great informative video, and I itched throughout. Thanks once again for showing me how to treat in case of infestation. 😊

[@finnster6582]

You inspired me, I repotted 2 plants with you. No Mealies!😊

[@plantsbymelissa]

Yay! Happy repotting and thank you for watching!! ☺️

[@daniellegalvin6722]

Love your collection! Hopefully one day I can have all the same ones? This is definitely a goal of mine. Can you maybe make a video one day on how you propagate your Hoyas? I’m having a hard time doing mine.

[@plantsbymelissa]

I do want to film and update Hoya collection! I have close to 30! You can prop them below a node on the stem. Just look to where two leaves meet and that's a node so cut below that. Sometimes you see little white bumps on the vine and those are where roots can grow. I love using stratum to moss to prop them! Once I do prop more of mine I will do a video! 🥰

[@lisaanglim9588]

Put it on a trellis. It looked so beautiful. I’m talking about your sherperdii.

[@gulabchandkodopi6676]

So beautiful plants collection🌱💚

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@gulabchandkodopi6676]

@@plantsbymelissa wlcm💚

[@DoraTheExplora50]

Thanks for sharing . I like that you use that little brush 🖌️ to clean up the leaves. Great idea💡

[@andyandbee]

I've heard other people say that lacewings didn't work well... or at all. I'm sorry. Tell your cats we love themmmm!!! 🐈 🐯 💚

[@plantsbymelissa]

I will! ☺️ I was so diappointed :( I think I will use them again in the future or for a different pest but definitely not for a bad mealy infestation!

[@andyandbee]

@@plantsbymelissa Then I definitely am sending prayers and Good vibes your way, to your plants, so it hopefully works out!!! 💚🪴🌵

[@suzydoss4386]

Could you put alcohol in a spray bottle and spray them? Does that work?

[@carolstuff]

You really took care of removing all those pests!

[@jessicapetrin1655]

GT foliage focus is awesome!!! My plants love it!

[@plantsbymelissa]

So good to hear! Just waiting on the delivery!!

[@celested8073]

I know this is 7 mths ago but mealies are mealies. First of all, Melissa...love your videos, you have given me renewed interest in taking better care of my plants. Secondly...Melissa, why bother with having to deal with every single mealy by swabbing them? I had the same problem with my Hoya krimson princess, I sprayed it with white oil, making sure it was totally covered...I sprayed again 2 wks later and voila...no more mealies although I'm keeping a firm eye on my plants from now on.

[@jessicapetrin1655]

Melissa, how many cuttings do you have in your lemon lime maranta to have it look so full and gorgeous? Mine is so sparse and want mine to look like yours. 😊

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! I have 4 lemon limes! 😂🫶 3/4 of them I have NOT been repotted yet and are still in the original mix. The other one I cut back and is in pon now. Some have several cuttings or vines ☺️

[@Xio.P]

In order for them to bloom they like to be root bound and go through a little stress. If you’re ever out these way in Richmond Hill let me know I’d love to show you my little greenhouse and let you pick out a hoya. Oh also, I have taken a spray bottle and spray straight alcohol before and didn’t harm the plant

[@With.Alia.at.home.]

I would wash the roots with hydrogen peroxide with a bit of soap then re pot. I also would spray with a mixture of alcohol isopropyl, soap, hydrogen peroxide and Neem oil or pest oil if you have any. This works wonders for me

[@amandak4695]

Hi! Are mealy bugs the same as scale? I found my sansiveria had white fuzzy bugs when I had it in too high of humidity. And yes, I agreed with you when you were about to chuck the plant. I would chuck it. Hoyas are on thin ice with me. They just grow too slow and leaves don’t size up significantly. My collection is not getting any Hoyas added, I’ll put it that way lol

[@plantsbymelissa]

Mealies and scale are different bugs! The white fuzzies are definitely mealies. If I get any more hoya it would be some silverly blue ones! I love certain varieties of Hoya but I love my big plants a lot more. I don't think I would be too sad if most of my Hoyas left my collection 😬

[@mommayanna]

Hey, I had mealys and sprayed it straight (not diluted)on plants and it never hurt the plants at all. Just wanted to tell you

[@JMS77-c9m]

Mealey bugs really suck!! This video was super satisfying!

[@sandy5097]

Thank you for this video, I am in the process of treating hoyas for mealys, what I've been doing hasn't worked, (neem oil) I will try your method. Thanks!

[@plantsbymelissa]

of course! It should take care of most of them and any that pop up after this I will just treat immediately and hopefully, they will just disappear for good! Good luck!!

[@lisaanglim9588]

I’m surprised that they haven’t bloomed when they are such prolific leaf growers. If you want a plant that will bloom for you get a Hoya multiflora. This lovely plant has bloomed twice and it’s in bud again right now. It boomed last December, June, and now again in October. The blooms look like shooting stars. They have no smell that I can detect and I’ve seen one or two drips of liquid from the blooms.

[@lisaanglim9588]

I put my rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and really cover the plant. It goes much quicker.

[@videosrfunfunfun]

Great video. You sure did a lot of work to get rid of the mealy bugs. I am looking forward to seeing if all your efforts worked out. I wonder what nurseries or people that have tons of plants do to prevent them or treat them? I see so many do all the work like you did, but rarely see the results. What if you had an outbreak on over a hundred plants? It would take forever to treat them all as you did. I don't have my first Hoya yet, but I am working on it. I do think that if you put the alcohol in a 1/2 gal. pump sprayer it would get into all the nooks and crannies much easier than with the brush you used in the beginning. The pump sprayer has a finer mist than the hand sprayers. I got mine at Harbor Freight for $4.99. I am trying out another homemade pest prevention spray and it sprayed so well with the pump sprayer, really got great coverage and was easy for me. But maybe you wanted to also rub them off with that brush on the plant that was so bad. I did see you use a hand sprayer after that. I have not had any pest problems yet, but I am looking for an easy way to treat and prevent them. I think the plants that soaked awhile was a great idea too. I think the plants may take a little while to recover from their spa day and repotting, but I think they will love you for it and grow very nicely afterward. I treated the area around my sliding glass door and windows to prevent pests from coming in by them. So fr it is working. 😃❤🪴

[@noelle7714]

I use to get mealies on my maranta, if found a lot of them when a new leaf was opening and they would get down in the sheath that I would miss. So I mixed water, castles soap and alcohol and spray the shit out of them and let it run down the stems into all the crevices and that took care of them,at least for me. I hope you got rid of them all.

[@carineds]

Did you try Neem oil? Works pretty good. First wash the plants and then evey week spray neem oil but you probably know that already 😅😅, great videos again and again 🥰

[@thelioness3305]

Don'tfeel bad I was shocked one day when Iwent outside and found all this white fuz on my Apple TRees just planted. Yep Mellies. I could not believe it.

[@plantsbymelissa]

oh no so sorry!

[@Laura-Ransan]

-What's blend do you use for your Hoyas now? -I love it trailing btw - the Chelsea grows soooooo slow for me too!

[@plantsbymelissa]

thank you!! oh good to know, it seems like it's been this size forever lol. I use a diy mix for my plants, just as long as it has stuff to make it aerated! I'll eventually switch from fox farm to coco coir :)

[@sharonstoner5732]

This isn't new or something I invented but, recently I sprayed my hoyas (and other plants) with a solution of 1 part water, 1 part 70% alcohol, and a few drops of dawn dish soap and man, those mealys didnt know what hit them. Definitely worked better than anything else I've tried.

[@hattiesimpson6941]

I love the idea of using a hair coloring brush: seems to take some of the most tedious work out and that’s what drives me so crazy lol

[@plantsbymelissa]

I tried to find a paint brush or a small makeup brush but this is all I could find that I could spare LOL but it worked!

[@beverleywheeler]

I spray mine with pesticides and leave it for half hour then I put it in the shower to wash it all off and works perfectly

[@lisaanglim9588]

I’ve heard thss as t compactas are very pest resistant. Maybe that’s why you’re not seeing many mealies.

[@kristathompson9888]

I am unfortunately dealing with Thrips right now. Mealies seem to love my Syngoniums though

[@plantsbymelissa]

I'm so sorry! I hope they're gone soon!

[@josiemojica3674]

Tanner the planter also dunks his entire plant but his solution does have alcahol. I think size and age does not play significant factor with blooms, same as you my largest never bloomed but my cute mathilde and polyneura bloomed.

[@plantsbymelissa]

I think some varieties can bloom more easily too! Most of my blooms have come with time and better light!

[@KSGirl03]

About the beneficials…. I got some about a week before you. How long until I’ll see some mites?

[@plantsbymelissa]

It can depend on the variety of mites - some take a little longer to hatch and some need higher humidity (around 60 %). My round hasn't been that active so I am trying to up humidity. I'm going to give them the rest of this week to see what they do. After a week or 10 days you should definitely be seeing some activity - if not I would reach out to them. They are supposed to guarantee live bugs!

[@KSGirl03]

@@plantsbymelissa Thank you for responding! 😊 I hadn’t thought about humidity!

[@brooklin_bernek]

I’m convinced that predatory bugs don’t work unless you have them on rotation every week or so and it’s more of like a greenhouse or grow tent setup. They have never worked for me my pests only got WORSE :( I gave up buying them they are so expensive plus overnight shipping 😢

[@lifepathjourney3638]

Take a few cuttings of the Hoya🌿then toss the rest of the Plant🤷 especially if you think it will become a hassle.

[@haileycaldwell3174]

I was yelling at the screen while you were potting up the retusa like nooo Melissa you forgot the osmocote!

[@AmazonsAroids-gb5vm]

I’ve seen you try out green lace wings. I’ve never used those, but maybe it would be better to order live adults if possible? I recently released lady bugs in my cabinets. I will say they are the most active friendly bugs I have ever used. They have escaped the cabinets, but they seem to congregate on plants that are not doing their best.

[@plantsbymelissa]

I didn't get them in a hexcel which maybe would have helped keep them separated from each other and attacking themselves 😒 I would love to give lady bugs a go except I don't want to risk it with cats. Eating a couple shouldn't hurt them but they can be very curious kitties!

[@kellymitchell1154]

Does peroxide work as well as alcohol? Thanks

[@SSW1FTT]

Yooo, how come you don’t own/grow a money tree? It’s my first plant that I have bought and it would be a good way to get your fans to dip their feet into the plane of planting since it’s easy maintenance

[@plantsbymelissa]

I have one 🫶🏻 I just don’t show it much

[@SSW1FTT]

@@plantsbymelissa wait wait so then may I ask a question? What do I do if I have discovered fungus growing on my soil in the pot with my money tree?? Should I repot or try to treat it with cinnamon? I’ve been doing research on this and I think I’m gonna use cactus mix, with some recycled material that is plant safe to put at the bottom to prevent overwatering and then also a pebble tray since it loves humidity. Do you think this is a good way to deal with this? (I’m thinking of replacing the indoor potting mix from MiracleGro too)

[@joannanovara815]

Liquid orchid fertilizer is good for hoya

[@jessicapetrin1655]

Melissa, did you try to get your money back for the lacewings? I know they aren’t cheap.

[@plantsbymelissa]

No, I didn't :( I got them from 2 different places. Some hatched both rounds but I just took the loss.

[@JessieSpence-z7r]

Hair up gloves on plant in the bin spray with alcohol and soap ,soil in the garbage …or throw it out

[@NaturallyNatural81]

Cussing Melissa just made my day

[@plantsbymelissa]

😅😅

[@DoraTheExplora50]

No punt intended but I disagree 🚫 😢😮

[@rebeccaparis6470]

Sorry not plant related but...beautiful ring! 💍

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! It's not my real wedding set! This is a cheap amazon one haha. When I worked in the hospital I never wore my real rings because they got so dirty and now they're too tight since I got married a long ago and my ring size isn't the same anymore. I need to get them resized. I'm not much of a jewelry person and I also have to take them all off when I go to bed so some days I don't wear anything when I am at home. It's a weird quirk! 😆

[@rebeccaparis6470]

@@plantsbymelissa I hear ya, I'm not really a jewelery person either but it's the meaning that matters! What a good idea to have a stand in ring until you get your real one resized!

[@MyLocsMyPlants]

💚

[@Parksideplants]

Hoyas!!!! Yassss

[@mariannebergman8616]

Have you ever tried to brush on diatomaceous earth? It's a natural mineral and not poisonous. It scratches the skin of the bugs and then they dry out and dies. When there are no living bugs left you can simply just wash the powder off.

[@liliromero4910]

That was a lot of work! I would have cried if I found a Hoya that infested.

[@Mandi_Hui]

Mealybugs are the worst. I lost my Hoya Compacta over it. I lost my Hoya Chelsea and Hoya Krimson Queen to flat mites. Is weird that it happens over the winter seasons. If is so bad i end up giving up on it and throw it out. I tried doing it manually and then soak in neem oil and pesticides and lemon dish soap in the bathroom. I think i did it twice and they kept coming back. End up giving up on them especially if is a bad infestation. Is ok if you notice them straight away can treat it immediately and can rescue the plant. Now i just treat all my plants with a preventative every month and clean the leaves aswell each watering.

[@plantsbymelissa]

oh no sorry about your plants! I was definitely slacking on caring for some of these plants but I will definitely do better at prevention so it doesn't get this bad next time 😬

[@DoraTheExplora50]

Sorry you're dealing with mealies😮

[@luisazippier1529]

Things happen, but your plants are beautiful. Where/ what are your favorite beneficial bugs to buy?

[@rhodealexandre6583]

Hi Melissa. Sorry you had to deal with pests. Hosing the plants down was a great things to do. Then use alcohol and keep treating it regularly Edit: Millies on Hindu Rope Hoya would be my worst nightmare

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! I'm glad I hosed most of them off. I sorta wished I did the other 3 hoyas but it's okay. I'll just keep a close eye on them 👀

[@lisaanglim9588]

Be careful not to give them too hot. Another KZbinr did that with super hot water and killed half her Hoyas.

[@lisaanglim9588]

Did I hear you say you were using acetone? Do you mix with the alcohol? Or use separate. Did I misunderstand you.

[@cathybeauchamp3718]

What did you get in the pkgs? What are those

[@KC-gj4bi]

My thoughts exactly, 😂 hose the shit out of it !!!

[@plantsbymelissa]

LOL 🫶 I had leaves flying off 😅

[@Zen.....]

still watching, but I use rootmana and their website has more info, 1g(half teaspoon) to 100ml water for the concerntrate or 1g to 20L water

[@plantsbymelissa]

Thank you! I didn't even think to check their site haha 🫶

[@lisaanglim9588]

I would have hosed that one down first then Sprayed and allowed to dry before repotted after or last.

[@KellyNellas]

“hose the sh*t outta it” 😂

[@plantsbymelissa]

LOL I definitely went a little crazy outside.

[@lorizamory4507]

Yeah, go heels!!😂

[@plantsbymelissa]

haha 🫶

[@rylanblack8571]

You take mealies seriously. I usually just give mine a spray down with soapy water and that takes care of it LoL

[@__lynzee41141]

If that was my infested Hoya, it would go straight to the trash! I would not risk my collection! 😮

[@plantsbymelissa]

Totally understand and the thought crossed my mind 😅 I was really trying to see if the lacewings would work and in the mean time the mealies really took over some of the hoyas. It was a lot of extra work treating them but at least they should be gone now 🙃

[@mommayanna]

Let the shepherdii trail

[@Pretty.Foliage]

Yikes! But I’ll take mealy bugs over thrips any day 🫣

[@plantsbymelissa]

same! I never want thrips again lol

[@beverleywheeler]

I check mine every second day because they can get infested if you aren't keeping an eye on them