I have been using alcohol and a qtip to control my mealy problem until now. I tried a mixture of Tetrasan , Merit and Enstar on a plant at recommended dosage. 3/5 tsp tetrasan per gallon, 1/8 tsp merit per gallon, 1/2 tsp enstar per gallon.
I had a test plant that was covered in mealy and sprayed it two weeks ago. The mealies seemed to survive and the plant is still covered. After a week of not making it into the greenhouse, 50% of my plants have some kind of Mealy infestation. Should I up the dosage of pesticides and spray the entire greenhouse?

Bill

Bill, the mealies will not fall off the plants immediately after they die. I would spray the entire greenhouse with the same spray mixture that you used before and wait at least two weeks before a 2nd appliation, if needed. You really shouldn't need another application unless you have somehow acquired a resistant strain of mealies. Even then, the Enstar should eventually wipe them out. It probably helps to use a tissue and remove all mealies from infested areas a week or so after spraying so that you can distinguish on-going infestation from residual dead colonies. Watch closely for mites after using this spray formulation as any mites left from the treatment will be more fertile due to the effects of the Merit. I prefer to use a second spraying of Tetrasan and Enstar without the Merit about 2 to 3 weeks after the initial spraying.
Dean

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Albert Dean Stock, Ph.D.