I need help fast. I am due to leave in a few days and I have what I believe to be a serious problem with plants that I brought in from outdoors for the winter. On top of the soil looks like "mold" but under a microscope I found it to be tiny white balls of cotton. (eggs) I am not my mother and bless her heart she is long gone. I don't want to lose my plants to a massive infestation while I am gone. I only knew to spray down the soil and plants with alcohol...
please can anyone advise?

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see ya' some glad mornin'!

might still be mold. some of it looks like cotton balls. but, if it is buggies, you can use a mild dish soap solution in the plants. won't hurt them.

mild dish soap works for foliage really well... but i have a similar problem.. i find that it's actually mineral build up due to the water. what i do is just let the water sit out on the counter for about 24hrs ... since i started doing that it has stopped.. and it sounds like the same problem your decribing... however if it is bugs i suggest the above... except i'd completely re-pot with all new soil and throw the old soil out.. depending on the health of the plant...

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- "i love this show!" - G.I.R.

Remove the affected soil and replace it. I like to use a botanical pyrethrin spray on my plants (especially my succulents - they seem more prone to bugs).