Scale
Scale
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Armored Bugs/Bumps, Shimmery Stickiness on Leaves
Rarity:
Uncommon
Warning Signs:
Dieffenbachia, Monstera, Schefflera
Common Plants:
Isopropyl Alcohol
Easy Treatments:
Warning Signs
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Scale aren’t as common a pest, but they do still sneak in sometimes. If left unchecked, they can get overwhelming very quickly.
The biggest sign a plant is struggling with Scale is if you see some on the plant. They look like brown or yellow bumps on the plant. Sometimes the more developed ones have stripes or spots.
They are most commonly on the underside of leaves, along the veins of the plant. They can also be found along the edges of the leaves. Sometimes they can be found on top of the leaves too. They may also be along the stem or in the dips of the petiole. They like to hide in the folds of your plant.
Another big sign of Scale is if there is shiny, sticky residue on the top of the leaves. When Scale eats the plant, they ingest the juices from your plant and poop it back out as honeydew, which is a sticky waste product. If you’re seeing or feeling sticky stuff on your plant, you could be dealing with Scale and should do a thorough check.
Treatments
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Scale is tricky because of their armored skin. It seals them off from the inside, so liquids and pesticides can’t get in and kill them. So, you have to dislodge them from the plant in order for your treatments to work.
The easiest way to treat Scale is to use a Q-Tip and Isopropyl Alcohol.
Spray a little bit of Alcohol on your Q-Tip. Then use that to squish and rub off any Scale you see.
Note: Be careful to not to leave too much Alcohol sitting on your plant as that can lead to damage. Wipe of any excess with a rag or your fingers.
Note: This approach is easiest when there are only a few bugs. It is still the most effective on larger infestations, but it will take a lot longer to clear them out this way and be way more tedious.
For larger infestations, you can dip sections into Isopropyl Alcohol for a few seconds. Just make sure to rinse the plant off thoroughly afterward.
You can also use insecticidal sprays like Captain Jack’s Insecticidal Soap or All-Season’s Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil mixtures to clear out larger infestations. Please READ the DIRECTIONS on these to make sure to use them properly. These methods work best if alcohol is sprayed first to stun the pests. The alcohol also compromises their skin, making the insecticides much more effective.
Systemic insecticides may also be effective on Scale because they will treat them through the plant as they ingest it. Though I have not tried any specific ones myself, so I do not have ones to recommend.
It is best to stay on top of Scale, as they are much easier to manage if there are only a few of them.
Note: When applying just insecticides, you may have to use them multiple times before they are fully effective.
Side Note: Check out my Pest Page for more tips on how to manage pests!
For more Basic Care Tips:
Visit my General Care Tips page. It can give more basic tips for:
Discovering Light Levels - Watering Frequency - Fertilizing - and More!