So how can you tell if your garden is infested, and how do you protect your plants? Luckily, mealybugs are easy to identify and treat. Here’s everything you need to know about these pests and ways you can keep your plants safe from mealybugs.

What causes mealybugs on plants?

Mealybugs love plants with high nitrogen levels, soft growth, and juice that they love to feed on (citrus crops are particularly susceptible for this reason). Usually, these insects are drawn to plants that are being cared for too much as opposed to too little. Overwatering or overfertilizing your plants results in a squishy, soft environment where mealybugs can thrive.

Why mealybugs are bad for plants

Like other sap-sucking pests, mealybugs are essentially taking the life from your plant. They favor crops with delicious flavors, sucking out the juice and doing damage in the process. Plants infested with mealybugs will start to have yellowing leaves and leaf drop, and in extreme cases, mealybug damage can cause premature buds, fruits, and veggies to fall off.

Worse yet, they don’t come alone. If left unattended, a mealybug problem can grow to the point where sooty mold fungus starts to develop. With their damage comes a weakened plant, and weakened plants are prone to other problems — ranging anywhere from diseases to even more pests. You should deal with mealybugs as soon as you catch them.

Signs of a mealybug infestation in your garden

As they cause damage to your plant, mealybugs will secrete a white powdery substance on the leaves and stems of plants. If you notice that your plants are starting to look wax-like or cottony, you may have a mealybug infestation on your hands.

Can mealybugs affect indoor and outdoor plants?

Yes! They can affect both outdoor and indoor plants, so this is a pest you’ll want to be on the lookout for in all your garden spaces. Because mealybugs are warm-weather insects, they’re mostly found indoors and in greenhouses in northern climates (and rarely on outdoor crops).

When it comes to indoor plants, mealybugs are drawn more to tropical species that like warm, humid environments. If you don’t have any of those in your home, your plants are at less of a risk; however, every species and variety of plant will have its own challenges. Some tropical plants might not attract mealybugs, and some non-tropical plants might get infested with them much more easily than the rest. It’s important to familiarize yourself with every kind of plant you’re growing to know what challenges might lie ahead.

Ways to get rid of mealybugs on plants

You can use most techniques to get rid of mealybugs on both indoor and outdoor plants. Where possible, you want to try natural methods of removal first to cause as little harm to the infested plant as possible (as well as those in the surrounding area). If you have a mealybug infestation on any of your plants, here are some things you can try — in order of small to large infestation:

1. Use isopropyl alcohol. For small infestations, you can soak a cotton ball in 70% rubbing alcohol and wipe the mealybugs away. This kills and removes them. Test it on one leaf before wiping the whole plant to make sure the leaves don’t burn.
2. Wash the mealybugs away. If you don’t want to risk burning your plant, you can also use this method to remove small infestations. Test on one leaf first to make sure you have a powerful enough stream of water, and to make sure that the plant can withstand the treatment.
3. Treat with neem oil. You can use neem oil for small to midsize infestations since you’ll still be applying by hand. It affects mealybugs’ (and other insects!) ability to feed and helps repel future problems. If they can’t feed, they’ll move on. This treatment may be best on outdoor plants to avoid the risk of the mealybugs simply moving to another houseplant.
4. Use a homemade spray. Homemade insect sprays are great for slightly larger infestations that aren’t as easy to remove by hand. You can find some natural homemade pesticide options to use here.
5. Introduce predatory insects. Save this method for outdoor gardens only, as you don’t want more insects brought into your home. By introducing natural predators of the mealybugs in a controlled manner, you’ll be able to curb the infestation.

If all else fails, you can try these non-natural solutions to resolve the mealybug problem: insecticidal soap or synthetic chemical pesticide. These methods have directions that you should follow as closely as possible — not only to make sure you’re using the products correctly, but also to keep your plants safe from harm as much as possible.

Mealybugs, other pests, and any diseases are nothing you want to play around with. Sometimes we don’t notice until it’s too late — and that’s only human. It happens to the best of us (even expert gardeners). But as long as you tend to the problem as soon as you notice signs of it, your plants have a good chance of surviving.

Although the English holly plant (Ilex aquifolium) is the most common variety, American holly (Ilex opaca) is another one you might see used in holiday greenery. Appearance-wise, there isn’t much of a difference; however, the English holly plant has a slower growth rate and is native to the U.K. while the American holly is a medium grower native to parts of the U.S. Really, you can’t go wrong with growing either.

How did holly become part of the holidays?

The origins of the holly plant are rooted in Pagan culture. People once used in formal gardens as a signature plant, especially in the Victorian area. Because the holly plant has such a high tolerance to pollution, it was beloved for its versatility and ability to be planted in industrial locations.

But how did it get an association with Christmas and the holiday season? It was once considered a sacred plant by druids, being one of a few plants that stayed green and vibrant during the colder months. They hung the plant in their homes to invite good luck and protection — and the Christians adopted the tradition. Once they did, the symbolic nature of the plant changed to reflect Christian beliefs.

In Christianity, holly is said to symbolize two things: The thorny leaves are the crown of Christ, and the crimson berries reflect the blood he shed on the cross. Today, holly is used throughout the holiday season in garlands and wreaths hung on doors and in homes to mark the beginning of the festive season.

Caring for your holly plant

The care requirements and needs of the English holly plant and the American holly plant are quite similar, so knowing how to care for one will help you learn how to care for both; it helps that they’re in the same family of plants. For this guide, let’s look at English holly.

English holly plants are slow growers, so they’ll need some time to get established in your garden — and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With this plant comes delayed gratification, and the reward you’ll have for tending to it and getting it settled in is that it will thrive and live alongside you for decades.

English holly doesn’t like extreme temperatures, so it should only be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, avoiding both extreme cold and extreme heat. Hard frosts can kill off healthy foliage and branches, and a lot of heat could cause sunburn and leaf drop. Make sure that where you live doesn’t have any kind of extreme winters or summers, and you should have no trouble keeping your English holly alive.

Light needs: Full sun to partial shade

Water needs: Prefers to be moist during warmer seasons and drier during colder seasons as it’s a relatively drought-tolerant plant

Soil needs: Can survive in a variety of soil types as long as they’re well-draining

Is holly poisonous?

Unfortunately, the beloved festive plant is poisonous to both humans and animals, which perhaps is unsurprising given the vibrant red of the berries. If ingested, the berries can cause dehydration, diarrhea, drowsiness, and vomiting — and it takes as few as two to cause these symptoms.

If you have children or pets that like to eat plants, it’s best to keep holly up out of reach. And even then, the berries on fresh holly dry out quickly indoors and fall to the ground, where they can easily be picked up and eaten. If there’s any concern, it’s best to opt for the fake version instead, which is just as beautiful (and can be used year after year).

Is the holly plant invasive?

When left to its own devices, the holly plant is considered invasive because it competes with other native plants in the area; however, when grown in a garden or containers, you’ll be pruning and maintaining the plant. Holly doesn’t grow fast, so you don’t have to worry about waking up one day to find that it’s taken over your entire yard.

Which holly plant is the one you see in all the decorations?

Although the English and American hollies have a similar appearance, the English holly is the one most commonly used in holiday decorations like wreaths and centerpieces — perhaps because the American holly has more requirements for producing berries.

If you want to grow American holly to use in bouquets and tree trimmings when the holiday season rolls around, you’ll need to plant at least one female plant and one male plant (as opposed to a singular English holly plant). The good news is that there are hundreds of American holly cultivars, so you won’t struggle to find them.

But why two? The female American holly plant is the one that produces the berries while the male holly plant is needed for fertilization and has to be planted within 30 to 40 feet of the female plant. Luckily, it isn’t a one-to-one ratio. A single male plant can fertilize multiple female holly plants.

If you only have room for one holly plant in your garden, though, it’s best to opt for the English variety. Holly plants look as equally lovely in containers as they do in garden beds, so even those with smaller outdoor spaces can grow some to enjoy the festive look of their berries during the holiday season.