A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 my poor jade

Tonya - I don't mind sharing some cuttings with you, but you did read that I'm not quite sure I've gotten rid of all the mealy bugs on them, right? I would feel just awful if you got a case of them, and it spread to your other healthy plants, as it did mine!

2 hours? you're not far away at all!

only time i've been to ny is to go to nyc...i did go skiing at greek peak one year tho (gosh, that was a LONG time ago tho! )

hadn't heard about wrennie's summer camp thingy...you'll have to send me the details!

i don't think the bugs will be an issue at all...you've treated for them repeatedly, so all should be okay.

i'll send ya a pm

I'm so happy to say that many of those naked branches have the teeniest babies popping out of the tips of them today!!! This mamma is going strong! Hopefully, before long, she will be back, bigger and stronger!

Thanks for all the encouraging words, everyone!

Updating this thread with some pictures of the babies!

Wow! Congrats on the progress!

Tomacco

Look at all those babies!!! Awesome. Looks like you are going to have a fuller and more beautiful jade than ever!

she looks terrific!!!!

i just KNEW she'd survive - such a well established plant can handle a lot!! and the buds are growing so quickly! you're doing a great job!!

I found that a solution of dish soap and water cured my mealy bug problem, I sprayed it on and gently wiped the plants off as best I could. That rid me of most of them. occasional holdouts were killed by a qtip soaked in alcohol. I had a major infestation, and only lost one fledgling jade and the bugs' source - a lucky bamboo I got as a gift. The bugs really liked the Corn plant, but it survived.

A good spray at the sink or shower will wash many of mites away. Also wiping each leaf underside with a moist cloth will remove the missed ones. No this several times to discourage them, but be careful not to over water...if you can tip your pot a bit as you water that will help or just use the wiping method. Never use insecticidal soaps on a Jade...they are extremely sensitive.

To prevent spider mite infestations increase the humidity in the home, especially during winter; dry warm air is prime time for spider mites.

Smaller plants can be grouped together over a shallow dish filled with stones, marbles, ect. then filled with water. The pots will sit on the marbles out of the water. Can do the same with individual pots. You can also also keep a small dish filled with water and sit amongst the plants; it will release moisture in the air around the plants.

Best wishes

It's been almost a month since the last picture.....how are those babies doing??

Yup- Inquiring minds want to know!

Sorry- hiccup

Thanks for asking - the babies are doing pretty well.
I was concerned for a while there - some of the new growth was a very pale green, but they seem to be taking on the darker color now.

Overall view:


Some babies:

Oh wow! Looking great! I was doubtful, too, but gee whiz, it's doing so well!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Yup! Looks real good! ..real real good. I'm glad that it survived everything!

Way to go Lynne!! It is looking good!

How does the jade tree look now?
I hope you let us see how it's progressed once the spring rolls around. And again next fall!

Thanks for asking!

She's doing quite well - that is when the cats don't knock off a new stem, like Amber did just yesterday!

Just took this picture. This is the time of year when my indoor plants do most of their growing. I'm thinking of cutting off some of the bare stems now that the tips are growing - I will definitely root those for new plants!

/clap

she's looking good, lynne!!!!!

Now that's a come back!

The jade is looking great. I'm glad to see the turn around.

Boo yah!

well...

The ENORMOUS diffenbachia that is next to my jade was completely covered in mealy bugs this morning! WAAAAAAH! I sprayed it with soapy water, as there were too many to get with a Q-tip and alcohol, and moved it to another room.

BUT... a few hours later, when checking the jade one more time, I saw some mealies in the crevices of stems! I am so upset and frustrated with this - it's not been a good morning all around, and this was the straw!

I just cannot seem to keep the mealies out of this corner of the room - I have washed down the wood paneling there, the floors, treated all the plants, but those persistant bugs keep returning! Do I really have to just get rid of all my plants there? It's such a great area to grow them by the sliding glass doors!

they might be in the soil. i remember seeing someone post that they can live in the soil.

what i don't remember is whether the advice was to repot in completely new soil or just take out the first couple of inches of soil and replace with fresh.

sounds like the dif is completely infested - what a shame!!! is it too big to put in the shower?? a good rinsing, after spraying with the soap mix, would be a good idea. (the soap can clog the leaves up).

if the jade only has a few, they should be easy to get rid of.

Hey, am hybernating over Winter but wanted to reply with this.

http://www.optimara.com/doctoroptimara/diagnosis/soilmealybugs.html

I would:

1. vacuum out the top 3 inches of soil and throw away. (Yes, I said vacuum)
2. pack a large towel in the void.
3. haul that jade into the shower, lay the pot on its side on the edge of the tub. Spray with soapy water, then wash off the trunk and leaves with warm water spray.
4. take enough good, new soil, mix it with the skelibobs, and toss it in the pot.

Best I can offer

p.s. Granddaughters are all doing well

Hi Joclyn and Tomacco!

The diffenbachia is huge - I tried taking some pictures this morning but the glare from the snow outside made the plant very dark and I couldn't fix it. Will try again in a few minutes. I was barely able to lift it to move it into the next room.

I might be able to move the jade into the shower, but that means dragging it upstairs.

I wish it was warm outside so I could just schlepp all the plants out and give them a good dousing!

I'm so glad your grandaughters are doing well, Tomacco!
Have any new pictures to share with us?