If you have never heard of scale, this refers to a common type of houseplant pest. There are actually thousands of different species of scale insects, and they can be difficult to identify or be incorrectly identified if you dont know exactly what to look for. Scale, just like any other houseplant pest, is important to try to catch early and treat quickly so that the infestation does not kill your plant or spread to other plants in your home. So, lets discuss scale on plants, how to get rid of scale on plants, what scale looks like, how to prevent scale infestations, and more!
Scales are common sap-sucking insects that can infest many plants including balsam plants. They attach themselves to stems, leaves and shoots to feed on the sap. A scale infestation can stunt growth, cause foliage yellowing, and even kill balsam plants if left unchecked. Getting rid of scales on balsam plants takes some patience and perseverance, but it can be done organically without the use of harsh chemicals. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to effectively control and eliminate scales on balsam plants.
Identifying Scale Infestations on Balsam Plants
The first step is learning to identify scales on balsam plants. Scales appear as tiny immobile bumps that congregate along stems and the undersides of leaves. They can vary in color from clear, yellow, brown to black. The bumps look waxy or crusty in texture. Other signs of an infestation include
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Sticky honeydew residue on leaves from scale secretions. This can lead to black sooty mold growth.
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Chlorotic, yellowing foliage.
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Premature leaf and flower drop.
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Stunted plant growth.
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Branch dieback on severe infestations.
Check along the midribs of leaves, new shoots, and stems for clusters of bumps to confirm scale presence. Early intervention can help curb major infestations.
Removing Scales from Balsam Plants
Once scales are confirmed on a balsam plant, action should be taken promptly to remove the infestation. Here are effective organic methods to get rid of scales:
Prune Infested Stems and Leaves
Use clean, sterilized pruning shears to cut off heavily infested leaves, stems, or branches. Dispose of the infested trimmings in sealed bags in the trash, not the compost pile. This helps reduce pest numbers.
Use a Soft-Bristled Brush
Gently scrubbing scales off with a soft brush is an easy manual removal method. Dip the brush in a mild soap and water solution first. Avoid abrasive scrubbing that can damage plant tissues.
Apply Horticultural Oils
Horticultural oils like neem, canola, or vegetable oil suffocate scales. Use a spray bottle to coat stems, leaf undersides, and branches with oil. 2-3 applications every 7-10 days may be needed to disrupt scale insect life cycles.
Use Alcohol- Soaked Cotton Swabs
Dip a cotton swab in 70% isopropyl alcohol and use it to manually wipe off scales. The alcohol helps dissolve waxy coatings and kill scale insects. Be gentle to avoid damaging plant tissue.
Apply Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soaps containing potassium salts of fatty acids can penetrate scale coverings and kill them. Test soap concentration on a few leaves first before widespread spraying to prevent leaf burn.
Introduce Natural Predators
Ladybugs, lacewings, birds, and parasitic wasps will feed on scale populations. Attract them to the garden with flowering plants. They help provide biological control of infestations.
With diligent monitoring and using these removal methods, scale insects can be successfully controlled on balsam plants within 2-4 weeks typically.
Preventing Future Scale Infestations
Prevention is key to avoid constantly battling scale on balsam plants. Here are some tips to avoid future infestations:
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Inspect new plants thoroughly before bringing home. Quarantine gifts/nursery plants for a few weeks.
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Separate and isolate infested plants away from healthy ones.
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Remove weeds that can harbor scales.
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Apply horticultural oil monthly as a preventive barrier.
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Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization that causes soft, scale-susceptible growth.
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Prune crowded branches to improve air circulation.
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Use sticky traps to monitor for early signs and trap crawlers.
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Attract beneficial insects like lady beetles to your garden.
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Remove and destroy severely infested plants.
With vigilance and prompt removal, scale insects can be successfully eradicated from the balsam plant without resorting to insecticides. Combining manual removal, gentle sprays, and introduction of natural predators can eliminate current infestations and prevent future ones. Following these organic control methods, your balsam plant will be thriving and scale-free all season long.
What Is Scale on Plants?
Scale insects are part of a large and diverse group of around 8,000 different species. They are part of the Coccoidea family and are closely related to aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Due to the fact that there are 8,000 different types of scale, they vary greatly in size, shape, and color. In general though, scale insects can be categorized as either hard scale or soft scale.
Hard scale, sometimes called armored scale, have a hard shell that protects them. This can make hard scale more difficult to treat, as pesticides can have a difficult time penetrating this hard outer shell. Armored scale actually become immobile once they reach maturity, fastening themselves to one spot on a plant and remaining there throughout the entirety of their lifecycle. The offspring of the adult insects are mobile and spread throughout the rest of the plant until they find a spot to attach themselves to where they also become immobile and begin to reproduce.
Soft scale, as one could imagine, do not have this protective shell. Instead, they are covered with a waxy protective coating. While this coating can repel certain pest control products, soft scale bugs are much easier to kill than armored scale. Mealybugs are actually one of the most common and well-known types of soft scale, and are not uncommon as a houseplant pest. For the purpose of this blog, we will be primarily addressing hard scale or armored scale, since this is often what people are referring to when discussing how to get rid of scale on plants.
How To Get Rid of Scale on Plants
Because of the shell of armored scale and the way they firmly attach themselves to the plant they are feeding on, these houseplant pests can be difficult to get rid of. Scale eggs remain under the protection of the mothers shell until they hatch and enter the “crawler stage.” It is during this stage that the scale insects are most vulnerable, but this stage is short-lived. Making sure you use the right products and employ an adequate treatment schedule will be necessary if you want to successfully treat a plant that is infested with scale. So, here are the steps one should take for how to get rid of scale on plants.
The COMPLETE Guide to Getting Rid of Scale Insects
FAQ
How do you permanently get rid of scale on plants?
How do you treat scale mealybugs?
What kills white scale on plants?
How do you get rid of scales on plants?
Dawn dish soap, or any household liquid soap mixed with water and vegetable oil, can do the trick. However, we prefer using organic soaps. Combine 5 tablespoons of liquid soap and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil with a gallon of warm water. Shake well. Finally, spray this DIY scale infestation spray on the affected plants.
How do you get rid of scale bugs on plants?
Shake well and spray liberally on all infested plant parts to kill scale bugs. Spray the plant as often as necessary until your plant is pest-free. You can also use a liquid soap solution to kill scale bugs on plants. Dip a clean sponge in soapy water and wipe down both sides of the plant leaves and stems to get rid of scales.
How do you control scale in a garden?
The most effective tool for controlling scale is prevention. Healthy plants are more resistant to pests and diseases. Keep plants well watered during summer to prevent stress from heat and drought. Plant tree and shrub varieties that are less susceptible to garden pests.
How do you treat a scale infestation on a houseplant?
When examining and treating your plant, try to do so in a well-lit room so you can better see the extent of the scale infestation. Keep your tools next to you as you go and make sure to wash your hands after removing scale from your houseplants. Scale can leave and come back, so make sure to also clean the area where you keep your plant.