Yikes, I just discovered nasty something or others on my h. calycina. I took pictures, but, alas, my camera and I just aren't able to capture closeups. Anyway, the offenders are about an 1/8 of an inch long, brown, oval- shaped, and are overlapping in a row on one of the long stems. I scraped them off with my fingernail. I think there are much smaller, yellow-y ones starting on it, too. I've moved it away from the others, but....Is this scale???? Or what??? And how do I treat it? Do I treat, I would think, the rest of my hoyas as they're all together on my front porch? How often is it safe to use BATS? I just used it in July, but with this turn of events, and also with our weather here in the midwest getting ready to turn cool in a few weeks, my hoyas will be coming in from outside. I'd like to treat them again, anyway - will it be too soon? Should I use a weaker strength? Thanks for your help. Paniced in Illinois - Karen
Help!
Karen,
it sounds like scale to me. Are they a little curved over? I have only had one plant that ever had a sever case of scale, it wasn't a hoya, but was a family heirloom plant, so I reall worked hard to clear it.....anyway, I did use systemic (the bonide granules that home depot sells in with the houseplant stuff) and I also scrubbed them off with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol. I kept rinsing it off in another tub with alcohol, so that I didn't spread them with the brush. It took a long time (hours, not days) of scrubbing, but I put a towel down, and worked in the middle of my living room while watching tv. I was successful, but I scrubbed every surface, and am sure that the systemic helped prevent future infestations.
I have received hoyas in the mail where I have found one or two hard scale bodies, but I just removed the individuals, like you with my fingernail, then used the granules again....they kind of smell bad, unlike the bayer, but they really really work well. Better than anything I have ever used. I have seen them completely wipe out a major mealie infestation in a matter of just a couple of months....
Hope this helps, a picture would probably help for a better id, in case it is something else, and I am sure that there are others more knowledgable, but from your description, it sounds a bit like scale
Sara
BTS 'drench' ought to take care of them!! Often when you see them they are already dead!!! Try alcohol and a cotton ball and pick them off. Dunk the plant in alcohol, or soapy water and they will suffocate.
Karen, do they have a hard shell? Do the seem to be mostly on the new growth? If they do not have a hard shell and do multiply on new growth, it could be aphids. AND if they are aphids, you can knock them off with a good spray with the water hose. Also, the methods above will work for them too. It sounds like a systemic is the best way to go.
You have to really stay on top of these darned bugs! When we get all these plants living in close proximity of each other, the little buggers start plant-jumping and next thing you know, you've got a nightmare on your hands. I never used to use any kind of chemical, but I've decided I'm going to have to do so now and then if I want to keep them at bay. It just makes me really nervous "feeling" for dampness after I've treated a plant. I'm hoping I'm not poisoning myself!
Denise in Omaha
Thanks, guys.....these bugs are nasty! They are hard-shelled. I will drench them again.....is it safe to do it again so soon??
Karen, are you sure it soaked in good when you did it in July? I'll bet it didn't get absorbed as much as it should have. Yes, I would go ahead & do it again. Make sure you set the plant in a saucer or something so it can soak up the stuff real good. Leave it set in it for half hour & then dump the saucer.
Then wipe off all the ones you see on the plant with alcohol on a paper towel or something. That should do it.
Marcy
Thanks so much!!!! I will do it again!