I have had this plant for years. It has 5 mature growths and few immature ones. Well, I have had an outrbreak of mealies on the plant. I decided to do an alcohol spray, as I would do with my chids. I don't think it was a wise decision. Since my first application, 2 weeks ago, I have boon loosing leaves at an alarming rate. Help, what do I do???

I haven't had problems with alcohol affecting my Clivia. I would suggest unpotting it and examining the roots, and maybe a good rinse and soak with warm water. Afterwards make sure it is completely dry for a day or two before repotting it.

I personally use the commercial insecticidal soaps on my clivia...just because I had it and don't like using it on my orchids. It works as well as anything else I've tried, and I have yet to have a negative reaction.

Post a pic of the plant and leaves, as it may give a better idea of what's going on with it.

Jon

(I saw this thread and thought, now that's a question for Jon, and here you are!)
Yay! Jon to the rescue!

So, Jon, why don't you like using insecticidal soaps on your orchids? That's what I wish to know.
Thanks!

(Good luck Ron! I love Clivia, very pretty plants.)

I suspect the roots are fine. The room was cool 64 F and with the alcohol, it may have cold damaged the plant from the evaporative cooling effect. I have removed most of the leaves as they have yellowed. If I get a chance, I wil take a pic but I don't think that will give you any helpful info.

Ron, it may be that the Mealy bugs had already damaged the leaves before they actually turned yellow, is it the outer leaves which are affected, or the inner ones too?

I don't think that the temp is the problem, we keep our Clivia outdoors and the temps get down to 30 F, as long as they are protected from frost.

We use a comercial insecticide called Chlorpyrifos, terrible stuff, but it works

Gideon, unfortunately outter and inner ones are being affected. Chlorpyrifos is a product that I am not familiar with.

I have joined the Clivia Yahoo group to see if I can garner some info from them too!

Gideon, unfortunately outter and inner ones are being affected. Chlorpyrifos is a product that I am not familiar with.

I have joined the Clivia Yahoo group to see if I can garner some info from them too!

I hope you joined the Clivia enthusiast group @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/clivia-enthusiast/?yguid=174087292
This is by far the best one, with world renouned authorities, such as Harold Koopowitz, Rudo Lotter, Dr Loukie Viljoen, Jim Shields, Wu Jin and Victor Murillo, to name but a few.