How to save a Cotton Rose Tree from white bugs

[SLESQ]

We have an enigma that I hope some serious flower folks can identify and help us to cure. I found a "pesticide" post that has been inactive for four years; perhaps if this is the wrong place, a moderator can suggest a better place.

A wondrous shrub or tree (depending on how it’s pruned to grow) has been with us for 12 years. Research shows this plant is commonly called a Cotton Rose tree, Confederate Rose tree, or a Snow Flower tree [Hibiscus mutabilis]. The most notable characteristic of this flowering shrub is that flowers of three distinct colors appear on the bush simultaneously as the blooms color cycle independent of one another.

As a large shrub or small multi-stemmed tree, it can be as high as 15 ft (4.6 m) high or as as shrub, have a spread of about a 10 ft (3 m) diameter. Neither a confederate tree (it hails from China but has taken a liking to the US southland), nor a rose (it's in Malvaceae, the hibiscus family), the flowers open pure white in the early morning and change colors in one day, turning pink by mid-afternoon and the next morning turning a deep pink to a dark "blue-pink" hue.

After the 2^nd year we found an infestation of white aphid like bugs; well not the bugs but their cocoon-like bubbles that spread fast from the stems to the broad underside of the leaves, and then the tops of the leaves, and then they migrated to neighbor shrubs and trees killing them in time. The tree/shrub can be planted by stem cuttings that we moved to our new yard, and still the white cotton things with hard balled interiors appeared and spread.

The white cotton-like pests are immune to all the common pesticides from simple soapy water to poisons that would kill the plant. The most effective way is to remove the branches and burn them (o oh, a violation of the law).

But when the new flowers start to bloom, the white pests re-appear on new branches or newly planted cuttings, indicating they have not been fully killed. This year for the first time the plant blossomed in all its true glory … and now again the blasted white bugs appear.

If they are mealy bugs or white flies, we need some new ideas on how to kill them.

If they are not mealy bugs or white flies, please send suggestions on how we can kill them.

I hope someone reading this post will tell us a good method to kill the pests so that we may save this wonderful plant for years to come.

[masuk]

I had a bug infestation a year or so back in the garden. I took some samples along to one of the garden supply shops behind Tesco-Lotus off the Super Highway. He supplied me with a small bottle of bug killer, and I bought a cheap plastic garden sprayer.

Used it once every 3 weeks and they were soon gone.

Also a great place for snail killer and 'mosquito sand' to knock off the mozzies in some pot plant saucers.

[SLESQ]

Masuk, thanks. I know the shops there well; will bring a branch there tomorrow and hope for the best. Thanks again.

[elektrified]

Nice plant...

We often get the same bugs and white stuff on some of our plants. Yes, if you don't do something about it soon, it will die. Take a clipping with the white stuff on it over to the chemical shop in Khamtieng Flower Market. If you enter from the driveway near JJ Market (across from the post office), turn right going into Khamtieng Market, it is 2nd from the end shop on the right (on a corner). They also sell garden tools and soil, etc. which you can't miss. There is a lady who is there every day who is the expert and will get you the right chemical which you will need to spray on a few times. We are out right or I would give you the name of the product.

[kaptainrob]

Google 'wood vinegar' ... we were given some concentrate to spray on all plants and it works similarly to white oil ... the latter obtainable from the Kampthieng shop mentioned. Also, look to see if ants are present in the tree as they can transport aphids around the garden. If found, sprinkle Chaindrite brand ant powder [big bag @149BT from HomePro] around the trunk and anywhere ants are found.

[SLESQ]

elecktrified and KaptainRob, thanks very much. I found mealybugs on closer inspection, and on another tree with similar symptoms I found hordes of ants mixed in with mealybug cotton-ball like eggs. I am familiar with Khamtieng Plant market and will be there with our groundsman tomorrow. Again, many thanks. Lots of good writings about how to make and the use of wood vinegar (even bamboo vinegar for human use). I'm not sure about possible human and animal toxic effects but as this is Thailand and not the USA, I presume few folks are worrying... as I can't find any reports on a quick search... I hope there are no problems. Thanks again.