White bugs on plants: mealybugs, whiteflies and what to do
White bugs on houseplants and balcony plants are usually one of two sap-sucking insects. Both make leaves sticky and yellow, and both spread to nearby plants if ignored.
Common causes
Mealybugs
White cottony or waxy patches in leaf joints, on stems and under leaves. They barely move. Leaves may be sticky.
Whiteflies
Tiny white insects that fly up in a cloud when you touch the plant, then settle back under the leaves.
Root mealybugs
White fluffy patches on the roots when you lift the plant out of its pot.
Powdery mildew (not an insect)
A flat white powdery film on top of the leaves that wipes off. It is a fungus, not bugs.
How to check at home
- Touch or shake the plant: do tiny white insects fly up? That points to whiteflies.
- Check leaf joints and stems for cottony white patches: that points to mealybugs.
- Feel the leaves: sticky leaves or black sooty dust mean sap-sucking insects are feeding.
- Check plants next to it; these insects spread easily.
What to do now
- Move the affected plant away from your other plants.
- Wipe off mealybug patches with a damp cloth or cotton bud, and remove badly infested leaves.
- Rinse the leaves, especially the undersides, with a gentle spray of water.
- Check again after a week; some always hide in leaf joints.
Avoid
- Spraying strong chemicals without knowing which insect it is; the wrong product can harm the plant and won't fix the problem.
When to call a specialist
- Insects are on several plants or keep coming back.
- Leaves are turning yellow, curling or dropping heavily.
- You find white fluff on the roots.
How TerraFormLife helps
Our specialist confirms which insect it is, cleans and treats the plant with a method suited to that pest, checks nearby plants and follows up on the next visit until the problem is gone.
First visit ₹299 + GST (50% off)
General guidance only. Every plant and garden is different; a specialist confirms the cause on site before treatment.