Help! Bug invasion of my favorite tree! 😭

penumbra

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So simple to swish the foliage in a bucket of soapy water for 30 seconds. Gets to every nook and cranny, job done. It is my procedure anytime I have to deal with a heavily infested plant.
It is by far the simplest and most effective procedure to eradicate the little sh..its. When I have a serious outbreak, which happens less and less frequently, I can do a dozen plants in 5 to 10 minutes and then move on.
I was concerned the first time I did it, but it turns out is is one of the best things I have learned.
 
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So simple to swish the foliage in a bucket of soapy water for 30 seconds. Gets to every nook and cranny, job done. It is my procedure anytime I have to deal with a heavily infested plant.
It is by far the simplest and most effective procedure to eradicate the little sh..its. When I have a serious outbreak, which happens less and less frequently, I can do a dozen plants in 5 to 10 minutes and then move on.
I was concerned the first time I did it, but it turns out is is one of the best things I have learned.
Can you recommend a volume of soap? I did this last year by recommendation of someone on the form to combat scale on a juniper, with little effect. I must have done it wrong, but I let the juniper soak for a good five or six hours after a vigorous swishing.
 

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LunaticTree

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Can you recommend a volume of soap? I did this last year by recommendation of someone on the form to combat scale on a juniper, with little effect. I must have done it wrong, but I let the juniper soak for a good five or six hours after a vigorous swishing.
Its the same ration when you do the dishes, you add enough for the water to be soapy, but not to littl
 

penumbra

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Can you recommend a volume of soap? I did this last year by recommendation of someone on the form to combat scale on a juniper, with little effect. I must have done it wrong, but I let the juniper soak for a good five or six hours after a vigorous swishing.
The efficacy of soaps on scale is debatable and it is suggested that different scales react in different ways from no control to complete control. Honestly, I use systemics for scale.
But for mites, mealy bug, aphids and such, a prolonged dunking as you have suggested has not been necessary for me. Recommended rates as a spray are anywhere from a teaspoon per quart to a tablespoon per quart. The higher rate is recommended by Lisa Bronner, granddaughter of Dr. Bronner. As a dip, I have found 3 to 4 tablespoons, or about 2 ounces in a bucket with 3 to 4 gallons of warm water. Mites seem to simply disappear and mealy bugs seem to dissolve. Other soaps are effective I am sure but I have been using Bonner's Peppermint soap for about 50 years for personnel hygiene like showers and shampoo. Used it today, used it yesterday, will use it tomorrow. I have also used Bonner's Tea Tree Oil soap and Lavender Oil soap. My wife prefers the Tea Tree but we are out of that one now. I like it as well but I have a 50 year relationship with the Peppermint, which incidently is the one most recommed for insects, though I think they all work.
 

Lumaca

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If you're looking for "alternative" methods that's been used forever over here in the tropics by traditional farmers:

Soak a bunch of spent cigarette butts (like a whole pack) in 1-1.5 liter of water for a week, add 2-3 drops of dish soap and spray the plants. The plant will stink for a while though (but that's the point).
 
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The efficacy of soaps on scale is debatable and it is suggested that different scales react in different ways from no control to complete control. Honestly, I use systemics for scale.
But for mites, mealy bug, aphids and such, a prolonged dunking as you have suggested has not been necessary for me. Recommended rates as a spray are anywhere from a teaspoon per quart to a tablespoon per quart. The higher rate is recommended by Lisa Bronner, granddaughter of Dr. Bronner. As a dip, I have found 3 to 4 tablespoons, or about 2 ounces in a bucket with 3 to 4 gallons of warm water. Mites seem to simply disappear and mealy bugs seem to dissolve. Other soaps are effective I am sure but I have been using Bonner's Peppermint soap for about 50 years for personnel hygiene like showers and shampoo. Used it today, used it yesterday, will use it tomorrow. I have also used Bonner's Tea Tree Oil soap and Lavender Oil soap. My wife prefers the Tea Tree but we are out of that one now. I like it as well but I have a 50 year relationship with the Peppermint, which incidently is the one most recommed for insects, though I think they all work.
Thank you! I appreciate the detailed answer. What duration of dunking do you recommend?
 

penumbra

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Thank you! I appreciate the detailed answer. What duration of dunking do you recommend?
I just dunk and swish. Maybe 10 seconds. Longer shouldn't hurt but I don't recall ever needing to go very much longer. The idea is that dunking gets it everywhere a spraying might miss.
 
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