Q. There is a prevalence of cotton-like stuff on my plants. It resembles cobwebs, but a little more sticky and denser. Is this fungus? Can you suggest any spray, medicine or any other remedy for it?

A. Usually, mealybugs reside in such ‘cotton-like’ formations on the plant. These pests stick strongly to the plant and are difficult to eliminate with spray only. The trick is to remove as many of these pests as possible manually, either with a dry twig or with your fingers. Moving forward, the cheaper option would be to make a solution of one litre of water and put in a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap, along with a few drops of vinegar. Spray this mixture over the plant generously. For even better results, make a solution with one litre water, a spoonful of neem oil and a few drops of dishwashing liquid soap and immerse your plant in this spray.

While spraying, put special emphasis on covering all the branches, stems, leaves and undersides of the leaves. Continue to spray on every alternate day till the complete removal of pests. Once the plant is cleared of pests, continue to spray after every fortnight. This time round, the neem oil........

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