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Scale

My jasmine is approx.6 yrs old and it winters inside next to a humidifier. Has dropped a lot of leaves which doesn’t concern me. What does concern me is the underside of leaves appear to have scale.  Only these bumps don’t seem to be bugs. Plus are quite small. Any ideas? Thank you!

The first sign of scale is the clear sticky honeydew on the leaves/stems. The bumps can vary in size and color due to the stage of development.   Underneath the bumps (which protect them from sprays) are eggs and crawlers which eventually crawl out but are difficult to detect because they are clear in color. It is at this stage, that they are vulnerable to sprays, and if treated can be controlled.
Persistent spraying is important. Neem oil can be used twice a month for 2 months. Use 1 oz. (2Tbsp) of Neem Oil ,  1 1/2 tsp dishwashing detergent to one gallon of water.  Another recommendation for shiny-leaved plants only is Cedoflora, which is low in toxicity, safe and effective.

A stronger option is Orthene, which is a systemic pesticide. It renders the whole plant as poisonous and insects die after feeding on it. It smells bad and should be used with extreme caution. (Never indoors). Follow manufacturers direction for safe use.

scale on staghorn fern Scale on bay leaf  

For a safe treatment try some horticultural oil on a Q-tip and dab on individual adult scale.  The oil will kill them by suffocation.  For cottony cushion scale use rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip. You can also scrape them off  with your fingernail which can be a very tedious task.   Repeated sprays of  insecticidal soap once a week can help control the problem.  One treatment is not effective as you may kill the adult but not the next generation.   Check your plant often for scale insects so that you can control any infestation before it gets out of control.

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11 comments to Scale

  • Diane Blumbugh

    I have a mandevilla vine and am bringing it indoors for the 2nd winter. My question is last year I brought it in and it got a white scale on it. I thought I lost it. But it survived when I took it out I cut some of the winter growth off and it did fine. What is this white scale and how do I get rid of it if it does this again this winter.

    If you have scale try some horticultural oil on a Q-tip and dab on individual adult scale. The oil will kill them by suffocation. For cottony cushion scale use rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip. You can also try scraping them off with your fingernail. This can become very tedious, repeated baths in insecticidal soap once a week can help control the problem. One treatment is not effective as you may kill the adult but not the next generation. Check your plant often for insects so that you can control any infestation before it gets out of control.

  • Dianne

    Hello,
    I have a Confederate Jasmine that a purchased a few months back. It has lost all its blooms but is growing quit well. I live about 1 hour north of Tampa Bay. It gets alot of morning sun. I’ve notice that there is a stick black substance on the end of some of the stems. Could this be causing it not to flower? Also what should I use to treat this bug? Also can I treat the plant for the bug and fertilize it at the same time? Thanks Dianne

    The black sticky stuff is called sooty mold (Fumago vagans) which grows on the honeydew that is secreted by insects such as aphids, scale & mealy bugs. Treatment will depend on which insect you have. Get rid of the bugs first and then fertilize.

  • Nancy Kimmel

    Is there any way to remove sooty mold and scale from an 80 year old gardenia. I have tried washing each leaf, but there are thousands on this plant. It was my grandmother’s plant.

    Is this plant indoors or outdoors? See above article for treatments..

  • Frank

    Hi

    I’m a new to the house plant thing. I’ve searched your site because my staghorn fern has little white/ brownish bumps. I see a picture but the article it is with doesn’t talk about the staghorn but a jasmine plant. I’m assuming I have some sort of insect. But I’m not sure how to take care of it. Can you please advise.
    Thanks
    F

    Hi Frank
    The picture is of scale on a staghorn fern which sounds like what you may have. One suggestion is to dip the leaves in soapy water to initially wash off the scale and then spray with an insecticide to kill the egg and nymph stage. Neem oil is a safe organic insecticide-follow directions suggested by manufacturer. Staghorn fern can be sensitive to sprays so try it on one leaf first to make sure its safe.

  • admin

    SCALE

    My gardenia plant leaves are shiny and wet with a sticky residue. plant seems healthy and i cannot see alot of insect . ihave had mealy bug on my OLEANDER and have treated sucessfuly with malathion .should i use something different on my GARDENIA? Craig

    If you have mealy bug you would see it. Another insect that attacks gardenia and produces a sticky residue is scale which may not be easily detected. Look closely at the stems and undersides of leaves for bumps that can be scraped off with your fingers. A magnifying glass really helps. They leave behind a clear sticky residue on the leaf surface. The treatment would depend on where your plant is growing (indoors or outside). You can use malathion to treat for scale, if it is listed on the label. It will kill the insects in the crawler stage but not in the shell stage. You may need several applications. Don’t spray indoors and use precautions when spraying. Don’t use insecticidal soap on gardenia as they have a tendency to be sensitive to soap sprays causing phytotoxicity(yellow/brown spotting and burned tips.
    UF IFAS ext.serv. An ultra fine horticultural oil will also work on scale.

  • Mary Ellen Donaghy

    My indoor ficus plant (never been outdoor) has a sticky substance on its leaves. It’s 4 years old & appears to be very healthy. Is the sticky substance a good thing (like sap from the tree) or bad (insects)?
    Mary Ellen Donaghy

    • admin

      Hi Mary Ellen
      Ficus tree has a tendency to get scale and that is perhaps why you have sticky substance on the leaves. Check closely under the leaves and on the stems. Sometimes they are hard to detect until you get a really bad infestation. See above for treatment.

  • paula

    this time i added my email contact as i am concerned for all my plants outside.
    some are potted and some planted. I live on the gulfcoast of Florida’s Panhandle.
    Last year my Jasmine vines got red & black hairy worms that looked like they came out of what a dirt dobber makes. The dried mud houses appeared opened and on stems, but not to the degree the worms were. This is the third year planted in ground and first year BLOOMED & beautiful. What were thoses & will they come back.
    I hand picked thoses off the vines.
    NOW, last night admired all plants (cared for earlier yesterday) and all was well. Early this morning THOUSANDS of hard shell bright yellow round bugs with alot of legs were covering half the top heighth of a 21/2 foot tall potted Red Mandevilla. Sprayed off with hose. What are they & what do I need to do for them not to return or kill them? Will they spread to other potted plants & ground plants?

    Hi Paula
    Can you send me a picture of the insect? Before you can treat for a bug you really need to know what it is. Another thing you can do is to contact your local extension office and showthem the bug for ID.

  • Jim

    Oops….Jasmine plant had BLACK & yellow catterpillar like things with legs. Not red & black.
    This year Red Mandavilla has hard shell bright yellow bugs with legs. Thousands appeared over night on top half.
    What are both plant problems?
    What to do for problems?
    Caterpillar things did not spread last year but have 5 large Jasmine on lattice fencing and they did get on a Passion vine in front yard. Easily picked off. Not seen this year yet.
    The Red Mandevilla in pot…recently bought. Have pink one on lattice in back yard and never had a problem and it was next to the Jasmine vine that had a problem.
    Can I prevent the caterpillar type thing (I don’t want to lose my beautiful 1st year of very full blooms.
    I do not want to put the Mandevilla in the ground now and wonder if should move away from alot of potted plants outside on uncovered patio with the Florida’s gulfcoastal weather.

    Hi Jim
    I’m not sure what insects are attacking your jasmine and mandevilla. In order to effectively treat for the insect, you need to identify it. If you can take a specimen to your local nursery or extension office and they should be able to help you ID the culprit. Sorry I can’t be more help.

  • joe

    Yellow/brown leaf drop
    My problem is that the leaves of my beautiful “Mandy” turn yellow then brown. Then i can easily pick them off or they fall off by themselves. She keeps flowering and climbing however and i just discard the ugly leaves.
    Do you think the Neem oil or the Cedoflora would alieviate this condition?
    My other three Mandy’s are just fine.
    What do you suggest?

    Hi Joe
    It may be that your mandevilla is being overwatered? Neem oil or Cedoflora will not help unless there is an insect problem on the vine.

  • Mike Detweiler

    Overwatering symptoms
    My Mandevila is dropping its leaves—how do you know if you are over watering? Thanks

    Hi Mike
    Some of the symptoms from overwatering is yellowing lower leaves that drop, the plant wilts even when the soil is wet.

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