zuzu
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White spots on my white bird of paradise? - 2008/07/20 23:15
 Ooh!
That looks like mealybug, an insect,
despite it's fungus-like appearance.
First thing to do is to isolate this plant from any others that you may have,
this pest will transfer freely - check carefully to be sure that this has not already occurred.
I occasionally get infestations of this rotten critter on certain plants
and I've found a couple of methods of control -
If the infestation is not too bad,
I swab the foliage with a cotton ball or paper towel
soaked in rubbing alchohol,
I do a very thorough examination of the plant looking for all signs of the boogers,
they will tend to also hide down in the crevises where the leaves originate.
Examine the plant every week or so until no further sign of infestation appears.
Several treatments are usually necessary.
This method works well for me with mealy bug or soft-bodied scale insects.
In some cases, I resort to harsher topical chemicals.
Then I apply a topical product which includes
mealy bug on the label,
in the list of pests for which it is effective.
Malathion is the one I generally use.
You can find this one, or others of the sort, at most any garden supply store.
Apply it exactly as directed on the package label.
Even more extreme,
and I will use these  when I'm ready to haul out the nukes, so to speak,
are systemic poisons
(also available at garden supply centers).
These are generally applied to the soil and taken up through the plant's
root system, rendering the whole plant toxic to most any pest
which might be munching away at it.
Again, use precisely as directed by the manufacturer.
Good luck with your plant 
this is a fixable problem, but it may take a bit of time and trouble. 
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so sad.
