Beginner Gardening: my giant dracaena fragrans has LOTS of scales, 0 by rattusses

rattusses wrote:
I had a friend take care of my dracaena fragrans over the summer, and it was returned with a giant scale infestation. This plant has eight heads... any tips on dealing with scales on this scale (hah)?

In the past, I've put systemic pesticide in the soil and used rubbing alcohol with a Q-tip. But this is such a giant plant....

Will it die if I just put systemic pesticide in the soil?

(this is an old photo - it's even bigger now)