Mealy bug on a bougainvillea

[Harri85274]

I have just this one stem about 10" long in a 4" inch pot. It has leaves and when i bought it had orange flowers. I repotted it and noticed lately, some white gooey stuff along the stem, particularly around the nodes. I can pick them off and its like sticky cotton. I've been spraying daily and touching with rubbing alcohol and seem to have it under control..there is not much of area to cover. Just when i thought it was under control i noticed another one. I picked it off. Is it possible that I can't get rid of this pest? I hate to think it getting invested as the plant grows. In fact, I've noticed at the tip end that it may start to bloom again. Its a Barbra Kurst variety.

[V_coerulea]

Barbara Kurst is not orange. It has deep pink flowers so someone goofed along the way. If you continue to treat and still get more mealies showing up, tip the plant upside down and gently knock it out of the pot to see if there are masses of them on the roots. If so, the only way I know to get rid of them is to put the plant back in its pot and plunge the whole pot into your favorite insecticide. Diazinon, Orthene, Malathion should all work. There are a lot of good insecticides that'll do the job and take your paycheck too (Enstar, Decathalon, etc). After no more bubbles come up, remove the pot to drain. Of, course do this with adequate protection (at least rubber gloves) and outdoors or in the garage with a fan if it's too cold outside. Eradicating them can be done but it takes persistence. Good Luck Gary

[Steve Wolfe]

While I have nothing against the insecticides, I've drowned mealy bugs before by just sticking the plant and pot under water for an hour. Of course, not all plants can tolerate that. Whichever method you use, I'd re-treat at least once per week for a while to catch the young after they hatch.

steve