Mauna Loa Hoya Compacta (the reverse version of the one pictured here) was the first plant that introduced live mealybug to my plant parenting journey. On the day before I was about to leave for a 2-week trip, I spotted these white cottony monsters and learned about all the various methods to root them out. I’ll forever remember me and my partner staying up late to spot treat all the neighboring Hoyas with alcohol dips, give them bubble bath of neem oil, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap (thanks @all.my.wet.planties for the tips), and convert them all to cocohusk immediately after. Luckily, that was my only encounter with mealybug and with a simple pest prevention routine of water shower and neem oil wipe and spray, all my plant babies, including the variegated compacta pictures here, have been pest free ever since. #🌱RehomingJournal - 03102021 #hoyacarnosacompacta x Claudine (at Seattle, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMRKUQpg33h/?igshid=1bdpousfmsc4i