Help, Please.
When I put plants down from the pergola at the last cold snap, I noticed that my A. had a bad infestation of scale. I wiped it down with alcohol, but there are still some on the inner leaves.
It's in the upper left corner.
What can I do to save this beauty. I love it and it has just stopped flowering again.
Thanks
Hap
Hap,
Last year one of my Sagos had a bad infestation of scale and I gave it real good hosing with water(power nozzle) a couple of times and they were washed off. I quit insecticides a while back and I find water works better for Thrips, Spider Mites, and others as well or maybe better. Hope It helps.
Larry
Thanks, Larry.
Learned to late, lost 3-- 8 footers, to the sago scale. But that was a different type of looking scale. These are the "dot" kind not the white ones which were on the sagos. Almost cried!
But I will give it a try in the am.
Hap
Hap.
If I could remember everything I've forgot. I grow Bromeliads but still a beginner and don't believe I've had scale on my A. Blanchitiana. I do know that its a bad idea to cram one of the monsters they sell on Overseas Hi way in Ismarodada into travel bag on wheels. It was so large and with all the cramming I did to fit it into my bag, by time I got back to Austin, it had pushed back off of my bag. Thank goodness I got it home before it fell out.
Larry
This message was edited Feb 18, 2009 4:14 AM
Do not put oil on your brom leaves, it blocks the 'pores' (also called scales) of the leaves and it cannot photosynthesise and might die.
It sounds like you have fly speck scale, a little black dot? these should come off quite easily by hand, and are not much of a threat to the life of your plant, but more an aesthetic problem. Just be vigilant, and remove any you see, probably once a week will be sufficient.
If it is a different type of scale (larger, brown, mussel shaped) you might try a chemical called malathion. (copy this and paste it into google to research it first) I have not tried it, but it has been recommended to me by large brom nursery growers.
Good luck, and don't fret too much. It is a lovely looking plant. I think a Billbergia?
Sue
Thanks WW.
The label on the pot says, "Achemea Blanchitiana. For what that's worth.
You never use alcohol on a rag/q-tip?
Hap
We're talking about the green one with the pendulous flowers? Hanging in the left hand corner?
Aechmea 'Blanchetiana' is HUGE! It is either yellow, lime green, orange or red
http://www.plant.id.au/home/guide_view.aspx?id=57
yours is more like Billbergia windii
http://www.pbase.com/edgegallery/image/51503837
have a look
Never trust a label. Mine the Billy. Thanks for the info.
Hap
Hey Hap,
I think people have fun changing labels in the plant nursery! he, he (not me, I would never do it!)
I've picked plants up and realised they aren't what is described on the label. I look for the right label, or remove the wrong one, so no one gets confused by it.
Sue
Sue, I have seen it all too often too, but usually with the stick-in-the -pot labels. This was was stuck to the side of the hanging pot and I had always thought it was a knowledgeable nursery. Live and learn!!
Hap
mmm, thats bizarre, unless they re-used their pots? Maybe? Anyway, it's a lovely specimen in a basket. Lets hope you can get on top of that scale!
Sue
Amen!!
