Need Advice For Getting Rid Of Scale!!!

[billc]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

Thanks Bill! Where did you find the Malathion?

I got several(maybe more) years ago in a local garden center. It's pretty strong stuff but if used correctly really works.

Bill

[Wynn Dee13]

Thanks again Bill!

[AnonYMouse]

I've gotten rid of scale on my cumbava lime with a cinnamon concoction foliar spray and I have used the same as a "dip" on new orchids with questionable histories. I have not had to deal with any scale activity on orchids and media so I can't say the concoction will work in your situation.

My formula is a variation on Buds, I reduce the water and add IPA.

Just my

Good luck

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

I've gotten rid of scale on my cumbava lime with a cinnamon concoction foliar spray and I have used the same as a "dip" on new orchids with questionable histories. I have not had to deal with any scale activity on orchids and media so I can't say the concoction will work in your situation.

My formula is a variation on Buds, I reduce the water and add IPA.

Just my

Good luck

Thanks! What is IPA? Can you give me your recipe?

[31drew31]

Ive used neem oil double strength recommended to get rid of scale. Treat every 4 days or so for 4 treatments then every 10 days a couple times and all should be well. I use neem on all new plants coming in and treat all my plants with it at normal strength every few months. Ive used it on Masdevallias/Draculas in pure LFS along with most the carnivorous plants generas; Nepenthes, Drosera, Pinguicula, Heliamphora and Cephalotus.

Also great as there are no chemicals and safe with pets.

[Wynn Dee13]

Thanks drew! Do you spray in the pots too or just the foliage? I have a product with the main ingredient neem oil.

[31drew31]

I buy the raw neem oil that is the consistency of cold peanut butter then warm it up in warm water and mix 2-3ml per L of water (double this for scale). I spray liberally until the plant is soaked (make sure to spray undersides of leaves) then dump the rest through the pot.

Neem wont kill the eggs but is effective on the young and older scale insects. I always also used 70% ISO and removed any I could see.

This is the exact stuff I use, its sold in Canada as leaf polish as its not approved for treating pests.

[AnonYMouse]

IPA=isopropyl alcohol

Cinnamon Concoction:
10 drops dish soap
1/2 tsp. cinnamon extract
14-15 oz tepid water
1-2 oz IPA (depends on %)
stick of cinnamon in spray bottle (optional)

Don't worry about accurate measuring. I can never get drops of dish soap, I get dribbles of it.

For the dip, I let the orchids soak for about 30 minutes then rinsed them prior to potting.

For the lime, I sprayed after watering, good cover under and over the leaves as well as the branches. Most if not all scale activity was gone within a week. I repeated one week later to make sure. I irregularly spray it as a preventative since this citrus seem susceptible.

I don't know if application frequency will be different with your climate. I have RH around 50%, no rain this time of year, so the stuff dries up on the plant. The lime leaves look beautiful.

One other application. I do regularly wipe down orchid leaves with this. Don't know if its effective but hasn't seem to hurt them.

[Wynn Dee13]

Thank you so much everyone!

[ronaldhanko]

Great series of posts.