These organic pestilence control lead will help you get rid of scale on your plant , plus prevent them from returning .
Scale insects are often drop in indoor and out-of-door gardens due to their minuscule size and innate camouflage . These plant life pests may not look like much , but scale can make a tidy sum of head ache for plant parents and they ’re some of the trickiestpests to eradicate . However , there are effective way to get free of scale on plant once and for all . In this guide , you ’ll find oneself everything you need to know to name , treat , and prevent scale insects usingnatural and constitutional horticulture methods .
Jason Donnelly
Credit:Jason Donnelly
What Are Scale Insects?
There are about8000 different species of plate insects , typically divided into two main categories : soft - incarnate scale , which includes mealybugs , and hard - corporal or armored scale . Most types of exfoliation are specialist feeders and they target specific flora metal money . Fruit trees are often favored by exfoliation , but these gadfly also attackhollies , camellias , and houseplants likecrotonsandmonsteras .
indulgent - bodied scale insect are a chip heavy than hard - corporal scale , but both types of scale typically quantify about 1/8 to 1/16 inch long . Soft - bodied scale sometimes search fluffy , like tiny white cotton plant balls , while hard - bodied scale have waxy , vaulted shield that protect their fragile bodies . ordered series come in an assortment of colors , including clean , gray , brown , tan , and yellow , and their muted tones aid them blend into works leave and stems .
Compared to other bugs , scale do n’t move far and most specie are stationary as grownup . However , during their nymph or crawler level , scale insects can move between plants , which is specially problematic if thepests invade houseplant collection .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Identifying a Scale Infestation
Because scale insects are so small-scale , many nurseryman do n’t realize that they ’re dealing with a scale problem until infestations diffuse so much that they ’re obvious . Often , scale insects are befuddle with the raw bump that appear on the stems of sure plants . However , unlike natural plant life gibbosity , scale can be well scrap off plant leaves with your fingernails .
In general , scale insects target plant life folio and stems , but they often congregate on the bottom of flora leaves and around flora leaf veins . Be trusted to check these country cautiously if you distrust musical scale have invaded your plants and be on the lookout for steamy “ honeydew , ” which gentle - bodied scale release as they feed . As infestations advance , you may also notice signs of stress in affected works , such as leaf discoloration , leafage drop , and stunted development .
How to Get Rid of Scale Insects
scale leaf insects regurgitate quickly and they spread quickly during their crawler phase , so it ’s important to do tight if you spot scale leaf on your plants .
Scale on Houseplants
If you see scale leaf on your houseplants , isolate the infected plant immediately and snip away any leave-taking that are badly infested with scale . diminished infestation of scale can be treated by dipping a cotton wool swab in rub alcoholic beverage and dabbing the alcohol over any scale you see . However , if you have a large infestation of plate , you ’ll have good hazard treating plants with an organic insecticidal spray . Soap nebulizer andneem oil spraysusuallywork well for mealybugsand other soft - corporal scales , but constitutive horticultural oil sprays work well for armored scale . nebulizer should be applied every 7 to 10 days until all signs of scale have vanished and you ’ll need to go for sprays in the eveningso plant life do n’t develop sunburn .
Scale on Fruit Trees or Outdoor Plants
If scale have invaded your fruit trees or out-of-door garden , you have several option . One choice is to free good insect , such as predatory wasps , ladybugs , and lacewings , near affected plant . These predatory insect naturally feed on ordered series and they can make unretentive employment of these pests .
Another option is to treat touched plant with organic horticultural rock oil nebulizer . These product should be applied when plants are dormant in wintertime , or in late winter to early summertime when scale nymph are most active .
How to Prevent Scale Insects
While scale dirt ball can be slay using rude treatment methods , it ’s much easier to prevent scale leaf from invading your works in the first stead .
Most of the clock time , ordered series invadehouseplant collectionsby hitching a ride onnew plant you bring home . To avoid this , always check plants over carefully and quarantine new arrival for several weeks before you add them to your collection . Houseplants can also sometimes be infect with scale if they ’re go along outside during the summer , so you may want to spray your plant preventatively with horticultural oil before get them back indoors .
In outdoor gardens , scale insects can be kept at bay withcompanion planting . Growing powerfully scented herbs as well as flowers in theUmbelliferfamily ( such asparsley , dill , and Queen Anne ’s lace ) near plants that are favor by scale insects can attract ladybugs , lacewing fly , and other louse that prey on plate . It ’s also good pattern to keep plants as respectable as potential by provide them with a proper balance of weewee , fertiliser , and sunlight . well-chosen plants can by nature withstand many plant disease and pests , including scale of measurement .
Frequently Asked Questions
Scale insects are covered in a thick , waxy coating , which makes them resistant to some pesticides . Hard - incarnate graduated table are peculiarly well armored , but even these pests are vulnerable to horticultural crude oil and chafe alcohol .
Vinegar sprays can sometimes act on soft - bodied scale , but they are n’t effectual against armored scale of measurement insects . If you choose to use vinegar sprays , be certain to debase the acetum with piddle and add a few drops of Castile liquid ecstasy to aid the miscellanea bond to plant leave of absence .
Scale insects do n’t live in stain , but nymph can sometimes crawl around soil as they look for a situation to feed . If you ’re clamber with a bad plague of scale on your houseplants , you may want torepot your plantsin saucy soil or spray a bit of horticultural oil on the filth dividing line to keep exfoliation nymphs from spreading .
