What can I soak a sick plant in for serious scale?

[Vanda lover]

Some plants really attract scale. I had a spathoglotis that repeatedly got covered with them. I thoroughly cleaned the plant roots and all and sprayed it, then put it in s/h. It loved it and began to do very well but only for a few weeks. The scale was back and I threw the plant out, because I didn't want scale on my other plants.
I have never seen scale on my phrag, though.

[Leafmite]

I call these plants 'pest magnets'. Cinnamonum is the new top scale magnet. Bay laurel is now only #2. Nothing seems to like the theobroma cacao (chocolate trees), spider mite love plumeria, aphids love hibiscus, mealies love my jasmines. That is why I love rose systemic! I find it most useful.

[AnonYMouse]

Originally Posted by greengarden

What's the cinnamon thing anonymouse?

She asked, I'm answering. Not interested in arguing the benefits of a thermonuclear reaction on insects (I suspect that will get rid of scale or we just wouldn't care anymore).

The recipe is posted by many all over the internet.

Basic Cinnamon Concoction:
10 drops dishsoap/washing up liquid/liquid castille soap
1/2 tsp. (~1.8 ml) cinnamon extract from the spice aisle
2 cups (~500 ml) tepid water

Variations:
Reduce water, add isopropyl alcohol
increase/decrease soap for filminess (is that a word?)
add cinnamon sticks in spray/storage bottle

Smells great and the leaves are left shiny!

If you can't find the extract, Ray has a recipe (and so much more-thanks Ray!) somewhere on his site:First Rays' Free Info.

Also, there is some sort of association with ants. Controlling ants may be the first line of defense.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by goodgollymissmolly

Merit (Imidicloprid), Safari, and Marathon are all classed as neonicitinoids. They all fall into the "caution" category on toxicity which is the lowest (safest) rating. Andrew, the info I see says they are all effective against sucking insects including scale. Certainly my experience is good with them.

It depends on the type of scale. From the UC IPM site

A soil application of the systemic insecticide imidacloprid can provide season-long control of soft scales and certain other species such as European elm scale. Imidacloprid is not effective on armored scales and certain other species such as cottony cushion scale.

From what I've read, it is at best a suppressant on hard scales. I've found confidor to be less effective than malathion on heavy infestations of scales like Cymbidium scale.

[Vanda lover]

I guess I never noticed that there is more than one kind of scale. I have only seen the hard brown ones. I should wear my reading glasses more often.

[orchidsarefun]

Greengarden - is your plant outdoors ? I ask because based on my own experience and others, it appears that pests are rapidly eaten by other insects if the plant is outdoors for the Summer.
This may only apply to minor infestations. I am about to test that - I have a plant that I spray 1x per week and it appears not to be working, though I don't know for sure because it is a catasetum ( currently has no leaves ). Its going outdoors in about 2 months.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I don't like using poisons inside the house because of pets, but also for our own health.

Better check the MSDS on all your cleaning products then. Most people don't realize how intensely poisonous most cleaning products can be...laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, bleach, toilet cleaners, etc...they all have the potential to be very nasty if used incorrectly. Use the product correctly and responsibly...you will be fine.

When the plants are inside (Winter)..if an insecticide is needed I take the plant to the laundry room (behind a closed door and away from the pets) spray it while it's sitting in the sink and then I leave it in the sink for the next 24hrs...the next day I return it to its' shelf. Simple and very low risk or worry.

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by katrina

Better check the MSDS on all your cleaning products then. Most people don't realize how intensely poisonous most cleaning products can be...laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, bleach, toilet cleaners, etc...they all have the potential to be very nasty if used incorrectly. Use the product correctly and responsibly...you will be fine.

When the plants are inside (Winter)..if an insecticide is needed I take the plant to the laundry room (behind a closed door and away from the pets) spray it while it's sitting in the sink and then I leave it in the sink for the next 24hrs...the next day I return it to its' shelf. Simple and very low risk or worry.

Yes, I am very careful about that. I got in the habit of using vinegar and baking soda a lot when I got a parrot. They are sensitive. I still have a parrotlet, which is a mini parrot.
I sometimes put the plant inside a garbage bag, spray, then close the bag over night.

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

I have a plant that I spray 1x per week and it appears not to be working, though I don't know for sure because it is a catasetum ( currently has no leaves ). Its going outdoors in about 2 months.

What insects are attacking your catasetums? I have found that a number of my catasetinae are magnets for thrips. Thrips and mites are the 2 insects that I battle in my solarium. I have not had problems with other pests, they are likely kept under control by the pesticide applications I make to control the thrips and mites.

Conventional wisdom seems to be that spider mites are the problem pest for catasetinae but that has not been my experience. While I have experienced low levels of mite infestation and have seen some mite damage on my few paphiopedilums, the damage to my catasetinae comes from thrips. I find imidacloprid to be ineffective against both mites and thrips.

For thrips I use abamectin, Conserve SC and Overture WP.

[greengarden]

It is outdoors. I get the odd little bit of scale on the new growth of some of my other plants but easily managed by wiping it off, nothing like this plant.