White Fuzzy Stuff On My Houseplants

Q: What could be the cottony white fuzzy stuff on my houseplant stems? How do I get rid of it? 

A: It’s very likely your plants are infested with mealy bugs. They are kin to scale insects and both suck plant sap. Mealybugs protect themselves under a covering of white fluffy wax. On a day when you are filled with patience, touch each one with the tip of a cotton swab that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol. This will dissolve the wax and kill the insect beneath.

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