These organic pest control tips will help you get rid of scale on your plants while preventing them from reappearing.
Scales are often overlooked in indoor and outdoor gardens because of their small size and natural camouflage. This plant pest may not look like much, but its scale can cause many problems for the host plant and is one of the most difficult pests to get rid of. However, there are effective ways to get rid of scale from plants once and for all. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know to identify, treat and prevent scale using natural and organic gardening techniques.
What are scales?
There are about 8,000 different types of scales , which are generally divided into two main categories: soft-bodied scales, including mealworms, and hard-bodied or carapace scales. Most types of scale insects are specialized feeders and focus on certain types of plants. Fruit trees often dominate the scale, but these pests also attack rock plants, camellias and ornamental plants such as croton and monstera.
Soft scales are slightly larger than hard scales, but both types of scales are usually 1/8 to 1/16 inch long. Soft scales sometimes look fluffy like little white cotton balls, while hard scales have a dome-shaped shell that protects their delicate body. Scales come in a variety of colors, including white, gray, black, brown, and yellow, and their muted color helps them blend in with the plant's leaves and stems.
Compared to other insects, their scales do not move far and most species do not move as adults. However, in the nymph or crawler stage, scales can move between plants, which is especially problematic when the pest is attacking a collection of ornamental plants.
Detection of large-scale infections
Because the scale is so small, many gardeners do not realize they are dealing with a scale problem until the infestation is so extensive. Scales are often confused with the natural bark found on the stems of some plants. But unlike the plant's natural buds, the scales can be easily removed from the plant's leaves with your fingernails.
Scales usually target the leaves and stems of plants, but often collect on the undersides of leaves and around the leaf veins of plants. If you suspect your plant is infested with scales, be sure to inspect these areas carefully and watch for the sticky "scoop" that the soft scales shed as they feed. As the infestation progresses, you may also notice signs of stress on the affected plant, such as leaf discoloration, leaf drop, and stunted growth.
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How to get rid of shields
Scale insects reproduce quickly and spread as they crawl, so it's important to act quickly if you see scale on your plants.
Scales on indoor plants
If you notice scab on your ornamental plants, immediately isolate the infected plant and cut off any severely scab-infected leaves. Small infections can be treated by soaking a cotton swab in alcohol and dabbing it on any size you see. However, if your infestation is extensive, it will be best to treat the plants with an organic insecticide.
Soap sprays and oil sprays usually work well on mealworms and other soft-bodied scales, but organic horticultural oil sprays work best on armored scales. Spraying should be done every 7-10 days until all signs of scale disappear and spraying should be done in the evening to prevent sunburn on the plants.
Scale on fruit trees or open plants
If scale has attacked your fruit trees or outdoor garden, you have several options. One option is to release beneficial insects such as predatory bees, ladybugs and lacewings near affected plants. These predatory insects naturally eat a wide variety of foods and can outrun these pests in a short period of time.
Another option is to treat affected plants with an organic horticultural oil spray. These products are best used when the plant is hibernating, or in late winter-early spring when scales are most active.
How to prevent shields from appearing
Although scale can be removed naturally, it is very easy to prevent scaling on plants.
Scale often takes over your houseplant collection, attacking new plants you bring home. To avoid this, always inspect plants thoroughly and quarantine new plants for several weeks before adding them to your collection. Even houseplants can sometimes become infested with scales if kept outside during the summer months, so as a precaution you can spray the plants with horticultural oil before bringing them back inside.
In outdoor gardens, seeds can be prevented by planting a companion. Planting strong-smelling herbs and umbel flowers (such as parsley, dill, and Queen Anne's lace) near insect-prone plants can attract ladybugs, lacewings, and other scale-feeding insects. It is also a good practice to keep plants healthy by providing a balanced amount of water, fertilizer and sunlight. Happy plants can naturally resist many plant diseases and pests, including scale.
Frequently asked questions
Why are insects difficult to control?
The scales are covered with a thick layer of wax, which makes them resistant to some pesticides. Hard scales have an excellent protective coating, but these pests are also sensitive to horticultural oils and alcohol.
Does vinegar remove scales from plants?
Vinegar sprays can sometimes work on soft-bodied scales, but are ineffective against armored scales. If you choose to use a vinegar spray, be sure to dilute the vinegar with water and add a few drops of castile soap to help the mixture stick to the plant's leaves.
Do crustaceans live on land?
Scale insects do not live on the ground, but nymphs sometimes crawl along the ground in search of a place to feed. If you're having trouble controlling a nasty scale infestation of your houseplants, you can pot the plants in fresh soil or spray them along the soil line with a light mist of horticultural oil to prevent the scales from spreading. .
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Read the original article at Better Homes & Gardens.
