White bugs on calathea

My calathea has small white fuzzy looking little bugs on it. I know they are a mite of some kind. They're easily wiped off but obviously wiping alone isn't going to rid the plant completely, I need to spray with something.

I bit of research has indicated that a weak solution of detergent/water will do the job. Is this right, or do I need to be spending my hard earned money on a "specialised" off the shelf snake oil type product from my gardening centre?

 

Your description sounds like mealy bugs. They can be wiped off but I use methylated spirit, and a small brush or thin stick to dab it on them with. It kills them instantly.
They like warm dry air so spraying the plant may help keep them away ... maybe ?

 

Mealy bugs on my Streptocarpus, I kill them off but they always come back.

 

Yes, I've killed a load of them, but it's becoming tiresome now. Can they be eradicated completely or are they one of those critters that will always come back?

I'd rather spray with something effective and kill en mass than pick off individuals and get nowhere.

 

I know what you mean, i don't find any spray foolproof, but then at this time of the year I have lots of plants grouped together and I think unless you spray the whole lot they are likely to get reinfested .
You could try any spray which states it kills mealybugs but you also want one that says it's systemic.

 

I've just used this,

 

Lol, this is the type of stuff I was trying to avoid if possible. I truly hate spending money on stuff, especially where there is an alternative fix, which costs nothing!

I read about a detergent/water mix as being effective, but I wanted to see what you more experienced guys thought.

If shop bought stuff is the only real effective solution then I'll begrudgingly buy some, but we're talking mealy bugs here, not anthrax, lol. Surely there is a cheap, yet extremely effective gardening hack.

There always is....to most problems.

 

Everyone will tell you different.
Just my opinion.

 

Anthrax isn't a problem for plants.
A systemic insecticide is the surest way, although some tropical, sub tropical plants can react badly so do one and see what happens.
I've had mixed results with an organic insecticide based on various oils and acids.
With cacti and succulents the cheap way is to leave them out in the cold greenhouse and the cold weather deals with the mealy bugs. With more tender plants just putting them out over the summer will help.

 

Grandma used to fill her bath and place all her houseplants to submerge them over night. She said they couldn't hold their noses for that long !