Scale on plants are sap-sucking pests that attach themselves to twigs, leaves, branches, and fruits of host plants. This guide shares the best ways for scale control on houseplants.
There are more than 8,000 species of scale insects in the world and over 1,000 in North America alone.
They are such oddly shaped and immobile pests that they often resemble shell-like bumps rather than insects. In many cases, heavy infestations build up unnoticed before plants begin to show damage.
Large populations may result in poor growth, reduced vigor and chlorotic (yellowed) leaves. If left unchecked, an infested host may become so weak that it dies.
If you suspect your plant has a scale infestation, then read this complete guide to learn what they are, how to identify them, and then get rid of them in 5 simple steps!
Get Rid of Pesky Scales on Your Beautiful Alpine Storks Bill Flowers
Alpine storks bill flowers are truly stunning additions to any garden. Their delicate pink or purple blooms look gorgeous whether planted en masse or as specimen plants. However, these beauties do have one flaw – they are prone to scale infestations.
Scales are tiny, sap-sucking insects that can quickly get out of control if left untreated. An infestation can stunt your alpine storks bill’s growth, cause leaves to yellow and wilt, and even kill the plant if allowed to persist. As a gardener, it’s important to stay vigilant and take action as soon as scales are spotted.
In this article, I’ll explain what scales are, the damage they cause, and most importantly, how to get rid of scales on alpine storks bill flowers using both chemical and natural methods. With a multi-pronged approach, you can kick those creepy crawlers to the curb and restore the good health of your beloved flowers.
What are Scales?
Scales are small, immobile insects that look like tiny bumps or lumps on the stems, leaves, and flowers of plants. There are two main types – armored scales and soft scales.
Armored scales are the harder ones with a protective, waxy coating. They look like whitish or brownish bumps stuck to the plant. Soft scales secrete a waxy film but don’t develop a hard protective cover. They appear cottony or mushy.
Regardless of type, scales use their straw-like mouths to pierce plant tissue and suck out sap An infestation can quickly escalate as female scales give live birth to crawlies called crawlers These babies spread rapidly and establish themselves on new parts of the plant.
Why Scales are Bad News for Alpine Storks Bill Flowers
Scales weaken and damage plants in a few ways:
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Sap sucking deprives the plant of nutrients it needs to thrive. This stunts growth.
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The saliva scales inject into plants while feeding interferes with nutrient absorption.
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Excess sap consumption by scales causes leaves to yellow, brown, wilt, and drop.
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Sooty mold can grow on the honeydew secreted by scales This black fungal growth blocks sunlight from leaves, leading to further decline
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Pest predators like ants are attracted to honeydew. Ants may protect and farm scales, boosting infestations.
If uncontrolled, scales can seriously weaken alpine storks bill flowers, reducing blooms and eventually killing the plant. So taking swift action against these tiny pests is a must!
How to Get Rid of Scales on Alpine Storks Bill Flowers
When scales invade your alpine storks bill patch or container plant, you want to reduce their numbers as quickly as possible. Here are some of the most effective treatment methods:
Use a Strong Spray of Water
For soft scales, a strong jet of water can simply wash away and kill many of the insects. Adjust your hose sprayer to a high pressure stream. Start at the top of the affected plant and work down, spraying all surfaces and crevices.
Repeat every few days until scales are gone. This easy method takes advantage of soft scales’ lack of protective covering. For tougher armored scales, you’ll need to use additional methods.
Apply Horticultural Oils
Coating plants with lightweight horticultural oils suffocates soft scales and some armored scales. The oil blocks their breathing pores and disrupts feeding. Be sure to use oils made for home gardeners.
Thoroughly wet all surfaces of the plant, including the undersides of leaves. Reapply every 1-2 weeks for a few applications. The oil also kills scale eggs and crawlers. Follow instructions carefully as too much oil can harm plants.
Spray Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soaps kill scales through contact. Once sprayed onto plants, the soap penetrates their outer coating and causes lethal dehydration. Mix according to label directions and spray liberally over the entire plant.
Aim for full coverage including leaf undersides. Reapply every 5-7 days for 2-3 weeks until scales are gone. Insecticidal soaps work on both soft and armored scales. And they won’t hurt beneficial insects like ladybugs.
Apply Neem Oil
Extracted from the neem tree, this all-purpose organic pesticide kills scales and deters new infestations. It’s safer for plants and people than harsh synthetic chemicals.
Mix neem oil as directed and thoroughly coat all plant surfaces. The oil smothers adult scales, while other compounds disrupt the growth cycle and fertility. Reapply every 7-14 days until pests are gone. Neem oil also repels scale-feeding ants!
Use Rubbing Alcohol
For small infestations on hardy plants like lavender, rosemary or alpine storks bill, dip a cotton swab in 70% isopropyl alcohol and rub it directly on each visible scale insect. The alcohol quickly penetrates and desiccates the waxy coating.
Be careful not to damage tender new growth. This is best for occasional scales, not heavy infestations. And don’t use this method on delicate plants as the alcohol may burn tissue.
Apply Systemic Insecticide Drenches
Systemic insecticides are absorbed by roots and transported through the plant’s vascular system, poisoning scale pests from the inside out. Products like Imidacloprid are highly effective against severe scale infestations.
Follow label directions closely – systemic insecticides require careful dosing. Use them as a soil drench every 1-2 months until the scales are gone. Systemics can take several weeks to start working but provide long-term control of scale reinfestations.
Natural Predators to the Rescue
Along with using sprays and drenches, enlist predatory bugs as biological control agents against scales. Ladybugs, lacewings, wasps, and beetles all feed on scales. Attract them to your yard by planting pollen and nectar sources like sunflowers, cosmos, and yarrow.
You can also purchase live ladybugs and lacewings to release onto affected plants. And be sure to avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill beneficial predators along with pests. Let nature help restore balance to your garden!
Stop Scales Before They Start
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to scale infestations. Here are some tips to keep these sneaky insects off your prized alpine storks bill flowers:
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Check new plants closely for signs of scales before purchase and planting.
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Clean tools and gloves between working with infested and healthy plants.
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Promote airflow by avoiding overcrowding and pruning when needed.
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Water in the morning so plants dry out during the day. High moisture fosters scales.
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Fertilize moderately and avoid excessive nitrogen. Succulent growth is more susceptible.
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Remove and destroy seriously infested leaves, stems, and flowers.
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Cover new transplants with floating row cover to keep scale-spreading wind currents at bay.
Types of Scale Insects on Plants
Scale insects can be divided into two groups:
Armored (Hard): Secrete a hard protective covering (1/8 inch long) over themselves, which is not attached to the body. The hard scale lives and feeds under this spherical armor and does not move about the plant. They do not secrete honeydew.
Soft scale: Secrete a waxy film (up to 1/2 inch long) that is part of the body. In most cases, they are able to move short distances (but rarely do) and produce copious amounts of honeydew. Soft scale vary in shape from flat to almost spherical.
Step 1: Inspect Your Plants
First of all, if you suspect your plants have scale insects then you need to first inspect them and check to make sure that’s what they actually are. Read our guides on mealybugs and aphids to rule those out and to be sure it’s actually a scale infestation that’s affecting your plant.
You can also use a magnifying glass to get a close look at your plants and examine every inch of them to know how to follow the next steps.
Also, keep an eye out for host specific scale infestations, like those on camellias and hollies that provide an ideal habitat for tea scales.
How to Remove Fish Scales without using a Scaler
FAQ
How do you permanently get rid of scale on plants?
Does vinegar get rid of scale on plants?
How to treat barnacle scale?
How do you get rid of plant scale?
Natural sprays to control plant scale include rubbing alcohol, neem oil, horticultural oil, and insecticidal soap. The best time to apply them is in the morning; refrain from using them during the hottest or sunniest part of the day.
What should I do if I see scale on my plants?
Scale insects reproduce rapidly and they spread quickly during their crawler phase, so it’s important to act fast if you spot scale on your plants. If you see scale on your houseplants, isolate the infected plants immediately and prune away any leaves that are badly infested with scale.
How do I get rid of stork’s Bill?
Finally, make sure to give all equipment that has been in infested fields a good clean, to make sure no seeds are transferred. There are some good cultural control methods for Stork’s Bill, starting with spring and fall cultivation in crop fields, which will destroy the seedlings that have grown in summer and fall germination.
What does a stork’s Bill look like?
Common Stork’s-bill is hairy plant of dry grasslands, and bare and sandy areas, both inland and around the coast. Its bright pink flowers appear in May and last through the summer until August. The resulting seed pods are shaped like a crane’s bill (hence the name) and explode when ripe, sending the seeds, with their feathery ‘parachutes’, flying.