Need HELP with scale on Desert Roses and...

I have already posted to Adenium forum, but also thought to try here. I have two Desert Roses who have developed scale, and no matter what I use, it comes back like gangbusters. Does ANYONE have something that will kill the scale, and NOT everyone else in the house? lol....I also have a Jatropha that has developed a sticky substance that seems to stand up on little hairs, right by the crown (its a very young plant), and as each leaf reaches full open, they just crumple and drop off...have NO idea what that is. Anyone out there have any clues? Many thanks.

I gave you an answer on the caudiciforms forum. Don't know if it will help, but this is what I did.

Rub the stem's down with an insecticidal soap once a week for a total of three week's and add a systemic.

If you do not want to use a soap......use something with neem oil in it.

Rachel

P.S. Have you checked for spider mite's as well?






This message was edited Mar 12, 2009 10:22 PM

Oh duh! Neem oil! No, no spider mites there....also, the scale did not spread to other plants that were even in contact with the Adeniums...is scale species-specific???

ALso, how long use the neem oil for? Same as the soap? Can I use straight neem oil, or should I dilute it?

It depend's on what type of neem oil you purchase. If you use straight Neem....read the direction's because I think it has to be diluted with water. On an infected plant , I would use once a week for three week's and then keep my eye on it and any other plant that was near by while infected.

Watch any other plant/plant's that was/are anywhere near your infected plant. Scale's have been slower for me here to attach themselve's to other near by plant's vs. spider mite's!

Rachel

I had scale show up on a scheffelera and also a key lime plant this winter, besides the adenium. Watch also for mealies when you have scale - they seem to go hand in hand. Neem is also a good treatment, and the one I have says to dilute and also add in some dish soap. I bought it from my local orchid society, but have been waiting until the weather warms to treat. It makes a good drench in case you have root mealies, as I've heard. Multiple treatments of anything is necessary because of unhatched eggs. This is why I like the systemic for certain plants, depending on infestation.

Thanks all! I think my neem oil is from a bonsai supplier, so I will read the directions. I feel better, I was beginning to think I would lose these babies!

I used the pure neem oil mixed with some water and dish soap, per instructions on bottle. It also states that you can use that mixture to water (drench) your plants. I had a lot of pest problems last fall when I first brought my house plants inside, it did a very good job. There is a recipe out there that also mentions adding rubbing alcohol into the mix. I think the Neem would have probably gotten rid of all my pests if I had been a little more consistent. I did just recently get a systemic insecticide. I would notice small signs of activity but couldn't find much in the way of actual insects. It's getting warm enough to take the plants outside for a few hours and treat them and I wanted to get rid of the few remaining bugs.

Thanks!

Hi! Just saw this but I know for sure the rubbing alcohol & water mixed will kill scale. Spray once a week for three weeks. You can also mix the rubbing alcohol in with baby wipes and wipe them off. You should wipe them off anyway so you can tell if they are gone for sure. Approx. 1 tbsp alcohol to 1/2c water to give you an idea. It works for mealy bugs and spider mites as well. Drench the plant in it to make sure you get them all. Scale...blah!

More thanks!

Morrigan, I use rubbing alchol and a Q-tip, rub some on each one and they are gone. Then I give the plant that is effected a bath in mild insecticidal soap or Dawn, letting the mix run through the pot so it gets to the roots and thru the soil. I have to do this when I bring in my Jade plant in the fall, works every time