I have raised white cottony things on my outdoor cacti. How do I get rid of them?
Answer
More than likely these are mealy bugs. The usual recommendations for them are to pick them off with alcohol on a q-tip but that may be a problem for you! The other solution would be to hose them with a strong spray every couple of days and try to knock them off, then spray with a household insect spray. Be careful not to breathe the spray or get it on you. Also this plant should be isolated from other plants as these bugs do spread. If all else fails look for a chemical that is labeled as systemic for household plants that you add to the soil. It is then taken into the plant and as the insect feeds on the plant it is killed.