I had a massive invasion of mealy bugs on my mallow (hardy hibiscus). I think I've managed to neem oil them to death, but the plant is really trashed too. The stalks are still green, so not a total loss? How do I clean this mess up now? Do they prune it back to the green? Back to the ground? Set it all on fire? Is it a total loss? There are some replacements on sale at my nursery…..😁
by aidensmom
2 Comments
I still see some mealy bugs. The plant will be going into dormancy, I would cut down to a few inches and make sure you gather all the leaf litter and put it in the trash. Put some mulch around the base for the winter and wait for its return next Spring.
I’ve never seen mealies on the native species. Is yours a hybrid with a tropical one? Regardless, it’ll pop back up in spring. They’re pretty thirsty plants, so lack of water could have been an issue too.