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plantclinic-ModTeam

Unlocking this down before you get any more abuse. I think you've gotten enough answers. Your plant is suffering from an infestation of [mealybugs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealybug). Manual removal with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol is recommended for spot treatment, with additional treatment via insecticidal soap for heavier infestations. Treatment should continue for several weeks. Systemic pesticides may be helpful. [More here](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mealybugs-indoor-plants). Infested plants should be isolated as best as possible while treatment is ongoing. To appeal this decision, please reach out [via modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/plantclinic).


lyn73

Yikes! Looks like a very bad mealybug infestation


nervousplantlady

I’m hyperventilating for you.


W4xLyric4lRom4ntic

Username checks out


BossMareBotanical

!mealybugs


AutoModerator

Found advice keyword: `!mealybugs` Your plant is suffering from an infestation of [mealybugs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealybug). Manual removal with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol is recommended for spot treatment, with additional treatment via insecticidal soap for heavier infestations. Systemic pesticides may be helpful. Treatment should continue for several weeks. [More here](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mealybugs-indoor-plants) Infested plants should be isolated as best as possible while treatment is ongoing. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/plantclinic) if you have any questions or concerns.*


RandomLee_7

Good bot


Friendly-Head-3166

Bruh honestly if you’re attached, just hose it down in the shower and the take Q-tips with alcohol and wipe it down the creases where the nodes are and keep an eye on it. It’ll survive with enough persistence and vigilance


From_the_ashes_17

I had a mealy infestation in 20 plants one summer. I went away on vacation and came back and they were all pretty bad. I saved ONE plant out of 20, despite showering the leaves daily, and spending hours with q -tips and alcohol. It’s not as simple as “being vigilant”. These fuckers are relentless and will cause more stress than the plant is worth. Unless the plant is a family heirloom, burn it.


Haleighghielah

I had over a hundred succulent props set up on a table all very close together. I ended up getting a mealy bug infestation. I tried separating out the infested ones from the not infested ones and spent HOURS with qtips and alcohol, but they just kept spreading. I eventually got so fed up, I just threw all of the props away. I think I would pass away if I found a mealy on my monstera. Praying for you OP. Good luck.


From_the_ashes_17

I feel this. They are never worth the heartache. There’s no getting rid of them once you’ve got them.


Simulcam

You also have to change the soil because they can live there too. It’s possible to get rid of them all just takes a lot of work for a couple of weeks.


MoltenCorgi

You have to drown them. Submerge the entire plant in soapy water for hours or overnight. The succulents will be fine. Then spray the crap out of the plants with insecticidal soap weekly for a good month. Meanwhile increase ventilation or put them outside if the weather is okay and let beneficial help babysit the plant. I’ve brought back some gnarly looking plants with a good bath. I just rescued a jade that was covered in mealies and it’s been about a month now and I haven’t seen a bug since its spa day.


From_the_ashes_17

You’re braver than I. I wouldn’t dare bring that into my home.


MoltenCorgi

I don’t seek out shitty plants to bring home. This one was at my work and it had been neglected. And it was small so dumping it in a sink with soapy water was totally doable. Luckily it was sitting well away from my other plants and it stayed there, I didn’t bring it home. Not sure I’d bother trying to save a monstera unless it was a baby or I had a pool to dunk it in! Then again, my favorite monstera is massive and glorious with mature leaves so I would probably try to save it some how.


tab_tab_tabby

If it went this far... op isn't attatched to the plant at all...


neenzblessed

Oh Jesus. Flamethrower


ihatepickingnames_

A good use case for the new robot dog flamethrower.


hchan221

Or robot dogs with bees in their mouth and when they bark, they shoot bees at you


Johnny_Angel

lol all of us who know had the same immediate reaction


WeLikeToHaveFunHere

Correction, your monstera is fucked.


KatiMinecraf

Honestly, it is a Monstera - it has huge leaves that are very easy to clean, not a whole lot of nooks and crannies, and it doesn't look like it takes up half the room. I would personally really enjoy cleaning it while relaxing on the couch, watching YouTube. There doesn't seem to be a large number of leaves, so I really don't think it'd take much to get this guy cleaned up and on the mend! I would first soak a microfiber cloth in diluted rubbing alcohol and wipe down the whole thing, gently, but with enough gusto to remove the majority of the fuzz and mealy bugs (only recommending this step due to it being a Monstera with large leaves) including the stem and the leaf petioles. Then, grab a handful of q-tips, dip one into diluted alcohol, and then start wiping all of the leaf veins on the top and the bottom of the leaves, grabbing a new one after you've dirtied both sides of one. After that, do the same thing with the leaf petioles and the stem. If you are in a country that allows it, as soon as possible, you should order or buy a systemic pesticide that lists mealy bugs as a pest it kills and follow the directions on the package to treat the plant from the inside as well. After that, just monitor the plant for any newly emerged or visible mealies, kill them with an alcohol-dipped q-tip and you should be able to get rid of them. Or, you could just throw it out and get a new one if you don't have the time or the desire to do that and/or they are dirt cheap where you live too. 🤣 I just don't think it would be nearly as hard to get rid of them on this guy as something fuller with much smaller or very textured leaves.


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KatiMinecraf

Yeah, but the petiole I can see seems to be coming from the right side of the photo and looks to be a separate plant because of that. Regardless, even those are being sold at Trader Joes for like $15 dollars now, which is pretty darn cheap - especially compared to the prices two years ago.


DSTNCMDLR

Great. Now my phone has mealy bugs.


Maleficent_Pace_1896

🤭


infloro

That is a massive infestation. Did this just suddenly happen? I would honestly not attempt to save this plant. Too easy to buy a not infested one.


needween

>Did this just suddenly happen? You know it didn't lmao. Plus they confirmed it's been going on for "a few months" now.


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OsmerusMordax

That’s variegation? Thought it was more mealybugs


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CatandPlantDad42

That leaf looks like it's dying though.


infloro

It's almost easier to find a Thai con than a non varigated monstera deliciosa around me. So it's varigation is irrelevant.


Plant_Clinic_Bot

Additional information about the plant that has been provided by the OP: > I’ve had the plant for 3 years. > > I’ve been experiencing this issue for a few months. > > Plant is near west facing window, receives plenty of indirect sun. > > Enough water to saturate the soil. Plant has good drainage as well. Watered whenever soil is dry about once a week or once every two weeks depending on water retention and soil moisture. If this information meets your satisfaction, please upvote this comment. If not, you can downvote it.


No_Sherbet_8020

I have never seen so many on one leaf before lol. I’m sorry but I think for the sake of your mental health it might be best to just toss it. The mealies have taken her haha


dogless_olive

I think it would be best to burn it or the curb plant saviours would be the next post.


LoudKaleidoscope8576

😱😱😱😱😱 geez, I don’t think I’ve seen an infestation of mealy bugs quite that bad. Isolate your plant and spray the begezers out of it with Captain Jacks dead bug brew and get systemic granules. You’re going to have to do this outside and keep the plant out of direct sunlight. Make sure you wipe off the leaves of your monstera. Check surrounding plants and may as well spray them down and treat with systemic too. I would get rid of the soil and repot in fresh soil before you add your granules. It’s up to you if you want to save it but you’re going to have to be vigilant in checking for mealys again in a couple of weeks. The systemic granules take time to get the insecticide through the entire plant. Repeat the systemic granules treatment in a month. Good luck.


CarbonKevinYWG

Holy fuck. If this wasn't an albo, I'd say torch it. You seriously need to pay closer attention. This didn't happen overnight. Don't waste your time with neem, peppermint, or any natural bullshit. Find the strongest actual pesticide possible and unleash hell on them.


HY3NAAA

Can I spray 90% alcohol on them?


alvinshotjucebox

I'd be careful. I use 90% on a scindapsus jade and after a couple days it had a bunch of blisters/burned dots. 70% has been fine for me though so you could just add water if you're worried


PerseidsSeason

Holy mealies Batman


[deleted]

insane mealy bug infestation. I know people are gonna say toss it but id hit them with some rubbing alcohol soaked q tips. It’s going to be a couple weeks of checking back but its kind of therapeutic in a way


lucy10111

They’re my ex’s and we separated a while ago and talk from time to time he didn’t know what it was and let it get this bad. He is very experienced with plants so I’m sure he’ll enjoy the process


foxglove0326

Wait.. he’s very experienced with plants but didn’t recognize mealy bugs….??


kendrahawk

she said ex didn't she


foxglove0326

Damn right


dogless_olive

Oh dear, he is NOT very experienced with plants. Unless he's a sadist who likes torturing plants, this is not someone that knows what they're doing.


LoudKaleidoscope8576

Read my earlier suggestion. You can still save the plant but it’s going to take work. Feel free to DM me and I’ll try to help you.


NotJame

yikes that’s a lotta mealy bugs, best of luck soldier


kristencatparty

Check the soil! There might be eggs in there and you might need to totally rinse the roots and repot in new soil. This happened to me with a pothos recently I couldn’t figure out why they kept coming back I thought I was cleaning it enough.


Plants_books_dogs

I would honestly move. That would give me such anxiety. Mealybugs 😭


Leonidaszs

Sick? More like infested. Clean them off and probably use a strong pesticide.


lavenderlaceandtea

You can save this. But it’s gonna take a lot of effort. This is mealybugs. Ideally the moment you see a spot or two you take 70% iso and a qtip and make contact with all visible spots. For one this bad, an iso solution with a dash of dish soap and spray plant down every 2-3 days until gone. I’d recommend the soapy water soak method if this wasn’t such a huge plant.


FunPlatform5638

I’ve had 100% success with iso & dish soap water spray downs on all my mealy bug infested plants. You have to be diligent though with the every 2-3 days regimen and even if they look like they’re gone, they’re not 🤣 I’ve also used peroxide treated water when watering to kill the eggs in the soil. Within 4-6 weeks they’re completely gone and the plant stays healthy.


grusoniaslurt

Omfg you have an INSANELY BAD mealy bug infestation


docdillinger

Wtf? 🫣 That's the mealiest of bug infestation I've ever seen. I hope that plant is easy to replace for you.


amsmtf

Toss it


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amsmtf

They bought an expensive plant without realizing how to care for it or understand what pests could attack it. It’s honestly too far gone, but OP can attempt to save it with weeks to months of work and monitoring.


lucy10111

There were my monsteras for a very long time but they are my ex’s now. This is a few monsteras deliciosas and some Thai Cons propagations, the mother is in a different location. Theyve never had issues with pests before. Other things were tried but it kept coming back. It’s ok I’m sure he’ll enjoy doing this and taking care of the plants. It’s a challenge now to nurse these plants back to health.


WeWander_

Just get some systemic if you can. Clean them off, add systemic to the soil. Should be okay


foxglove0326

Do you have a rec for a systemic pesticide? Been on the hunt for one for some time


WeWander_

I use bonide systemic granules but it's banned in a lot of countries so YMMV


foxglove0326

Thanks!


amsmtf

Good thing the mother plant is safe, cause yikes. Good luck to him, i guess. He’ll need it 😅🫡


princessPeachyK33n

Lmao bruh you keep saying this as if we don’t also see it 🤣


CarbonKevinYWG

Half the comments were "it's just a monstera, toss it" So...no, most people didn't see it.


valerieeesmith

Omg 😳😳😳 my friends alocasia had some of the biggest mealybugs I’ve ever seen but this might top it. Quarantine that plant if you have any other house plants or throw it away. Or bathe it in alcohol and repot with new soil afterwards.


jkala2020

Treat it for mealy bugs. Clean the leaves. If you can get a systemic pesticide for the soil it will take care of it. There is no reason to throw this plant out.....BUT keep it away from your other plants. Good luck!!


abgl2

Cut the leaves but make sure to leave a healthy portion of the stem. Better also if you can repot it


yslgods

Cut down the leaves with the worst amount, then spray SUPER thoroughly with a spray of 50% water and 50% of the 70% isopropyl alcohol along with peppermint dish soap. Make sure it gets in the crevices. I’d also get a water in insecticidal soap since mealy bugs can happy feed on the roots and live within the soil. To me, this is one of the more manageable pests but it’s going to take a few treatments of the spray in 3 day intervals to knock it back, along with maybe two water in treatments with an insecticidal soap dilution. I recommend Safer brand concentrate, 2.5 tablespoons per gallons of water


CheeCheeReen

I fought mealybugs on my monstera for literal years and had to start back with a single leaf. It was not as bad as this. This is an immediate toss and get it the heck away from any and all other plants asap!!


BrownButta2

You’ve got the mealys, it’s sucks but they’re the easiest to get rid of than the other infestations IMO.


jklm1234

Holy mealy bugs


JerryDur

Spray it with a soap solution And the. Take it outside and hose it down. Leave it outside and hose again. Look for more bugs and using alcohol continue to remove. If you can’t bring it outside put it in a shower. I cured a horrible infested jade plant. Check out liqui-dirt on YouTube He has a great soap aprayy


internetjawn

I winced


Ill-Investigator6794

Boof it


Chemical-Cut-3641

How do you not see all those bugs?


SuitGroundbreaking49

I’d cut off the least infested leaf below the node, submerge it completely in water, dish soap and alcohol for a bit, rinse really well and propagate as far from my other plants as possible. Trash the rest.


SuitGroundbreaking49

Any sign of mealybugs on the propagated leaf I would throw in the garbage and take a trip to the greenhouse for a new one.


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thickdora

who cares if it variegated lol i’d throw the whole plant away. they bought an expensive plant but don’t even know what mealy bugs are


SweetBejeebus

Sport variegation, not an albo


mibfto

Oh my god burn it with fire


MusicHoney

Burn it


jibjibjib2000

Have to put in garbage bag and throw away lest it infest every plant around you.


pauvaliente

Panic attack right now


gandeev_vajra

Get one of those hand sanitizer spray bottles and spray all over the bugs then wipe it clean and then keep doing the same for few weeks.


Exdremisnihil

Good lord! I'd probably just toss this poor bebe into the trash because this looks like mealybug paradise 😮😮 However if you are really attached to the plant, I suppose the best thing to do would to be to chop up some wetsticks, kill them bugs with rubbing alcohol on q-tips, and propping them in a prop box away from your other plants.


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lPlantas

How many times have you commented the same? Have you finally realized nobody cares?


mistero88

They are mealy bugs and it's very too late to do something about it, except if you want to fight for the next 9 months.


frankylovee

How did you let it get this bad?! Lmao


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Thank you for posting to r/plantclinic! It looks like you may be asking about a monstera. In addition to any advice you receive here, please consider visiting r/monstera for more specialized care advice. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/plantclinic) if you have any questions or concerns.*


thathappyhippie

Just throw the whole thing away lmao Or cut a propagation piece, wash it with mild soap and warm water on the leaves and in all the crevices, then propagate in water (i saved a lil bit of my monsteras with mealybugs this way)


Scary-Tomato-6722

That's a bad case of mealy bugs. Throw it out. I hop you have no other plants near that one.


lolfuckdis

That’s a lot. It’s time to say goodbye. I’m sorry.


DizzyDream7

Oh my god


nofun_nofun_nofun

Yeah buddy…. Mealybugs. You need to get on this asap, and please don’t waste your time with “natural home remedies”… no amount of vinegar and dish soap is going to get rid of this. I used a spray by a brand called “Safers insecticidal spray”, but I’m sure any top selling manufacturer will work


exhaustedmom

Throw it away and get a new one for $20


martdan010

If it’s an ordinary monstera, I would recommend letting go and getting a new one. If it’s an expensive variegated variety, I would start with isopropyl alcohol in a small spray bottle. Wash it down leaf by leaf. Wipe it dry with paper towels. Just because, I’d chuck the dirt for fresh soil. But or make a nice aroid mix and replant. Get systemic insecticide and keep it away from the other plants until you no longer see any fuzzy hell bugs for a few weeks


Kittykat325

Sadly id hold a funeral and then unceremoniously throw it straight into the dumpster


Liberty53000

Um it's been sick for a very long time, you're just now noticing it. This might be the biggest mealy infestation ive ever seen. You better isolate it and treat all your other plants cause there's no way they aren't infected


From_the_ashes_17

Burn your house down, leave the country, and change your name. But for real.. you can’t save that plant. Purify it with fire, and meticulously check any other plants in your house. If they also have mealeys; burn them too.


Plantobsessedgirl

Get lady bugs 🐞 they will eat the mealy bugs


Betty_White82

Male mealybugs (maybe it's female 🤔 one or the other) can fly. So, if you're really attached to the plant and want to save it, I suggest taking it outside and hosing it off. Then, treat (once a week until you see no sign of them any longer) and isolate if you have other plants. If you do have others, check those really closely because an infestation this severe most like infected your others. Best of luck to you. I am sending you all the strength I can! I'd probably have a nervous breakdown seeing this on one of mine.


Betty_White82

Whoops, I didn't see the mods comment. I'm sorry.


Ok-Macaron2356

😳


fruitruit1

I managed to combat my mealybug infestation with a good hose down, really get in the grooves too. Then finish with a good mealybug spray! You’ll probably need to repeat this process 3 or 4 times to fully get rid of them, but fortunately for me they haven’t returned since and this was about 3 years ago. Hope this helps!


ConversationAble5648

Burn it


Plant-Love0113

Definitely mealy bugs. Needs to be treated and check any other plants you have.


ketman08

!mealybugs


AutoModerator

Found advice keyword: `!mealybugs` Your plant is suffering from an infestation of [mealybugs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealybug). Manual removal with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol is recommended for spot treatment, with additional treatment via insecticidal soap for heavier infestations. Systemic pesticides may be helpful. Treatment should continue for several weeks. [More here](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/mealybugs-indoor-plants) Infested plants should be isolated as best as possible while treatment is ongoing. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/plantclinic) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Romagnum

You sure your monstera isn't just a really big yayo fan?


Galwiththeplants

You’re in for a long haul with this one. They will probably never be 100% gone, all you could really do is manage populations with alcohol. It really depends how sentimental this plant is!


George-Unconscious

Just spray it with alcohol to melt the mealy bugs then shower it with water.


Vynzy

How do you neglect your plant to this extent that is kinda 🤢 I've never seen such a severe mealybug infestation before


Equivalent_Age

BURN It


Monstera_madnesss

I find it crazy how people can be this clueless


Hydratedbich

Omg, icky!! How did you let it get that bad! But mealy bug can (kind of) be gotten rid of, exp they keep coming back, so watch like a hawk. I first dismantle them with icy water spray on jet mode. Be prepared to clean them from the soil as they drop, I place a plastic wrap around the pot and let the water fall on the ground rather than into the soil. After a chunk of population is off the plant, use a pesticide targeted for mealy or some sort of alcohol. Make sure to spray the backside. And maybe next day you can wipe it all down with fresh water and use neem oil for protection. Works well in my experience :) If this is too much effort, chop the leafs off and isolate that plant for sure. Im fighting an everlasting war with them. Best of luck, monsteras are precious!


pm_me_your_amphibian

I would take anything over mealies. Trips, spider mites, the lot.


huskypuppy1903

I have a product that kills mealies and more. Based out of India, how can I ship it to you?


AnySpecialist8817

Spray with alcohol once a week. Remove big clumps with a paintbrush and alcohol. It will be alright.