Houseplant Pest Trio: Aphids, Scale, and Powdery Mildew

You're wisely discarding heavily infested plants. Here's what you had:

1. Black Eggs + Sticky Honeydew = Aphids

Soft black eggs on leaves/stems. Tan "eggs" = scale insects (brown discs on stems/leaf undersides). Both suck sap and excrete honeydew.

2. Sticky "Weeping" Leaves

Honeydew from above, or simple overwatering (transpiration).

3. Sticky Powder = Powdery Mildew (fungus), Not Cockroaches

Early stage: remove leaves, spray fungicide. Advanced: discard plant.

Cleanup Protocol

• Wash pots in hot, soapy water before reuse.
• Mist retained plants (not fuzzy-leaved) to deter pests.
• Wipe leaves regularly. Inspect weekly.

Vigilance prevents repeat outbreaks.