scale on Phalanopsis - Orchid Board

ladyslipper · #1 10-01-2007, 01:04 AM

Hi guys, after bragging to others in my club about my lack of nasties, I have just spent the last 3 hours wiping each leaf down with witchazel on a Q tip. I thought it was scale because they are hardbodied and can be "flicked" off with a fingernail. I removed every evidence of scale with a wet Q tip. I also went over the leaf surface of one plant that had quite abit of sticky residue. They have been set aside and hopefully I got ontop of things, on time.

Is this enough?

Regards, mary

sjMagoo · #2 10-01-2007, 03:32 PM

I would suggest only that you monitor carefully for a few weeks - that stuff comes back like the devil even when you think you've got it licked! If you notice more, wipe it down again.

Of course, if you have a lot of plants you will probably want to spray - but I like the hands on treatment if it's managable.

I've attached a couple of pictures just for reference

Tindomul · #3 10-01-2007, 03:46 PM

Oh yes, don't forget any blooms. They love blooms!!!
I have removed scale from my Calla lilly and one of my Anthuriums by hand. It takes months just to keep it from spreading and killing the plant.

Ross · #4 10-01-2007, 04:30 PM

For some reason scale loves my Encyclia tampensis and Beallara. I rarely get it on others. But removing nasties by hand is a start, but the eggs under the shells may have hatched and teeny babies are running around and falling down onto other things like flowers and leaves below. I have used Neem oil with added ProTekt to some success in stemming them and breaking the cycle. Where there is one, rest assured there may soon be more so be diligent in checking. The scales are tiny and yellow as the first get started as shown above.

justatypn · #5 10-01-2007, 05:14 PM

The most popular remedy is to swab and daub plants with a q-tip or cotton ball with "isopropyl alcohol". An alternative to the swabbing is using a misting bottle and or pump sprayer. You can also add a small amount of dish detergent to any of these: mineral oil, neem oil or horticultural oil, witchhazel is one that I am unfamilar with if this is an oil base...it's workable.

Formula: 1.5 liter spray bottle mix a 50:50 solution of isoprophyl and water witha few drops of dish detergent and a 1/2 tsp of one of the oils. The dish detergent acts as a spreader. Alcohol sprays are not as effective against eggs protected by scale covering, physical removal of the scales by hand is more effective for rapid control.

With an extreme infestation, replacing the potting medium is highly suggested. If scale is noticable on the rooting system, remove gently.

A rare problem with alcohol treatment is chilling of the plant. The rapid evaporation of alcohol cools the plant tissues, especially with air movement. This chilling is suspected of over-cooling tissues and creating zones of dead cells that may become necrotic from bacteria or fungi. On warm or breezy days consider wiping any residual alcohol with a tissue instead of permitting it to evaporate off the plant. Such problems and tissue drying are found particularly on soft or thin-leafed orchids.

Ross · #6 10-01-2007, 05:19 PM

Thank you Cheryl. I will print this for future reference.

Dorothy · #7 10-01-2007, 05:26 PM

I read where a tea of cigarette butts in a 50/50 mix of water and alcohol will kill carpenter bees and wasps. I have some 'tea' brewing in the sun (it needs a few more days of 'brewing') of which I will spray on my 2 plants that have scale. The pyretherin in the tobacco is the lethal ingredient. Maybe that will teach them

Scale totally grosses me out

but it pisses me off even more.

( Excuse my French

)

Ross · #8 10-01-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorothy

I read where a tea of cigarette butts in a 50/50 mix of water and alcohol will kill carpenter bees and wasps. I have some 'tea' brewing in the sun (it needs a few more days of 'brewing') of which I will spray on my 2 plants that have scale. The pyretherin in the tobacco is the lethal ingredient. Maybe that will teach them

Scale totally grosses me out

but it pisses me off even more.

( Excuse my French

)

OK, a "time out" here

. You have cigarette butts? Want some cigar butts? They're even more potent with the lethal stuff

? Scale doesn't gross me out, just the goo that results from squishing them with one's fingers

Dorothy · #9 10-01-2007, 05:47 PM

EWWW!

You squish them with your fingers! ICK!
I pick them off with a toothpick and smush them in paper towel .. I don't let those buggers touch me !
Thanks for the offer of your stogi butts .. but no thanks

Note to self - don't ever shake Ross' hand

Ross · #10 10-01-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Note to self - don't ever shake Ross' hand

My son said to tell you "Don't do it! You never know where its's been"