What did you use or do go get rid of the mealy bugs?

Honestly, I can't say I recall seeing that pattern of leaf damage on any plant.

Hi njoasis,
I went over the plant with a cotton bud and Vodka and removed them by hand. I keep checking over it, but can't see any more.

I did think maybe it was sun damage?! But this doesn't seem in keeping with their native environment. I did have it in a very hot room behind a window. I moved it afterwards to see if it would help, but it hasn't.

I have also watered it sometimes with tap water. I am not sure how sensitive they are to tap water chemicals, but I thought maybe this may be the issue.

I have attached another pic

Thanks for reading :)

Looks like you have applied some chemical when the temperature is too high.

Sorry, clueless here.

Are the NEW leaves coming out like that too?

You're right, Citrus are sun lovers...more the better! As far as heat, they can take that too. Maybe it was too much vodka. LOL.

Thanks for your responses, definitely no spraying of chemicals in it though! New leaves coming out with curling and some of this yellow brown. Hopefully I didn't overdose on vodka LOL! Thanks again, it seems to be a mystery!

Oh my. I'm thinking you may have applied the vodka with a q-tip? This is clearly some kind of chemical burn, and I'm thinking it was the vodka. I have never heard of removing mealy bugs with liquor. Clearly, you've burned your poor little tree with vodka. Where on earth did you hear to do that? You're much better off using a hard blast of water to knock off as many as you can, then spray with an insecticidal soap. Good grief. As far as the new growth, it could be due to very immature mealy bug infestation. I would suggest treating your tree more carefully, and with appropriate methods.

Patty S.

Thanks Patty, I feel suitably told off! LOL. I actually read this advice on this website. I didn't spray the plant. I put a tiny amount on a cotton bus/q tip and removed each individual bug from the fork of the branch. There weren't even that many! It didn't touch the leaves! I don 't use insecticides.

I think perhaps you've mixed up the kind of alcohol you can drink with rubbing alcohol? Two different things entirely. You can clearly see that you applied the Vodka with a cotton-tipped applicator (we call them Q Tips here, kind of like calling facial tissues, "Kleenex", Q Tip is a brand, and it has become the name for a cotton tipped applicator here in the USA). And, there are many great, organic insecticides that will do a much better and safer job than this :-) So, arm yourself with some insecticidal soaps, and use that instead of vodka, and you're plants will be much happier.

Patty S.

We all make gardening mistakes! My dumbest was once spending an afternoon planting my garden of tomatoes, eggplant and chile peppers in nice little rows, then fertilizing with...

'Weed an' feed'. The next morning my plants were all dead; then I realized my mistake. Ever since then, I almost never use poisons or insecticides in gardening. As said above, forceful application of water is great for getting rid of bugs. I do also insecticidal soap. Rubbing alcohol with a q-tip is fine too but save the vodka for yourself! LOL.