Identifying And Killing Scale Insects On Houseplants
View my profile
Get App
Soft scale are oval shaped insects that are brown in colour, and they appear on plants as small raised bumps.
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Scale don't move much. They bite down on a leaf and suck out the sap. They excrete honeydew, which looks like a shiny droplet and is sticky to touch.
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Scale usually get on houseplants when they are brought outside. While adults don't move, they produce babies in the spring that will travel.
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
First, you should quarantine the infected plant. New hatchlings could crawl and infect nearby plants.
1
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Wash or scrape off any scale insects you can find. They take a bit of effort to remove due to their hard shell. A wet q-tip will work!
2
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Especially look on the undersides of leaves, on stems and in any areas that are sheathed.
3
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Then, spray the scale and whole plant with an oil based insecticide. The oil will break down the hard shell and kill the bugs.
4
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
You can also spray the plant with a chemical insecticide if you have a heavy infestation, but some plants are too delicate to handle the chemicals.
5
@Aplantlady
on
Get App
Repeat the process as necessary, until you haven't found any more scale. Juvenile scale in winter are most susceptible to oil insecticide.
6
@Aplantlady
on
Aplantlady
Kay
Just a plant lady sharing plant care and propagation tips 😊
Explaining 3 Light Levels For Houseplants
Killing Mealybug Houseplant Pests
Caring For Pilea Peperomioides Plants
How To Propagate A Satin Pothos (Scindapsus Pictus)
View full profile
Explore more Jumprope
Want to create? It’s fast, easy, free & open to anyone.
Learn more.
More than 50,000 step-by-step guides to learn how to do anything.