Xannydoo: An extra thought. If you are having annual outbreaks, yet treating with Confidor, I wonder if the problem is actually repeated introductions, rather than a failure of the insecticide? In other words, are you adding new infected plants to your greenhouse each year? And here's a link that's ...

Hi Xannydoo! Confidor is excellent (IRAC Insecticide Group Code 4A). If I have to apply anything serious, this would be my first choice. It is certainly used by cacti/succulent nursery professionals in hot countries such as South Africa but I have no experience of Australian commercial nurseries. As...

As part of the quarantine process I remove all compost and dip the entire plant in provado. This seems to stop mealy bug completely, although it doesn't eliminate the need for quarantine for other pests Great. That really is the way to make sure. I don't go to quite those lengths - specifically ref...

Some brilliant answers above. On the subject of quarantining a collection, the telling point here is self-discipline. For those who are familiar with the marshmallow test, perhaps the cacti/succulent version should be called the "mealy bug test". The one and only mealy bug attack we've had...

Carl wrote:But they also have leaflets and noticeboards about local things so every little helps.

Exactly, Carl. So every local library should have a BCSS branch leaflet on the noticeboard. Well designed, colourful, with immediate impact.

I hope that Ralph's words that libraries "have had their day" are proved wrong - but I fear they are realistic, though not yet, based on my latest PLR returns (Public Lending Rights). As a child, I benefited from using public libraries. As an author, I have made sure that - in addition to ...

Peat in a garden centre seems to be an endangered species, Rod! :sad: I'm not sure about any remaining retail products - other than the fact that the "bags" get smaller and smaller, costing more and more. But there should be something like "wetting agent added" on the packaging. ...

rodsmith wrote:If using pure peat you will have a real problem trying to re-wet it after a dry winter rest.

Thankfully, Rod, most professional supplies of peat have a wetting agent incorporated to counteract this issue.

Phil's suggestion above of using multi-purpose compost is good. Following on, I wasn't joking in my first reply about using peat. It's vastly superior to multi-purpose compost (which covers such a wide range of stuff adding up to anything from "reasonably good" to "dreadful" - th...

Conrad: A quick search has failed to highlight our local brickworks, yet it is still very much in business. A few phone calls to bricklayers or house builders in your area might provide some leads. If you have access to a lorry or transit van, travelling beyond your area might still prove to be cost...