Is this scale?
- Thread starter ceriano
- Start date
Lutonian
Chumono
Could be but hard to tell as the pictures are a bit blurry, I would look over the whole plant carefully, underneath leaves and in nooks and crannies each one found should be scraped off with finger nail or toothpick.
Bnana
Chumono
I mainly see discolourations. How is it fertilised?
The vague white blob doesn't look like scale
The vague white blob doesn't look like scale
ceriano
Shohin
ceriano
Shohin
Superthrive and biogold nothing harsh.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
The pics are inconclusive. Scale do live on ficus so it is possible. Scale are small covers over the insect so if you can flick them off with a fingernail the chances of an accurate diagnosis increase.
No fertilizer will get rid of scale.
Horticultural oils can be used but are contact insecticide. you will need to cover every surface of the entire tree - top, underside, everything then repeat in 2 weeks to catch the ones you missed and any that have hatched since the spray.
Alcohol can also be used. Apply denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol with a Qtip?? and repeat every week to catch new hatchings.
Systemic insecticide travels through the entire tree and kills everything that sucks or eats.
Even if the diagnosis from the poor res photos is wrong the treatments above will not hurt the tree.
No fertilizer will get rid of scale.
Horticultural oils can be used but are contact insecticide. you will need to cover every surface of the entire tree - top, underside, everything then repeat in 2 weeks to catch the ones you missed and any that have hatched since the spray.
Alcohol can also be used. Apply denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol with a Qtip?? and repeat every week to catch new hatchings.
Systemic insecticide travels through the entire tree and kills everything that sucks or eats.
Even if the diagnosis from the poor res photos is wrong the treatments above will not hurt the tree.
Bnana
Chumono
Using systemic pesticides without a proper diagnosis is pretty much overkill. Not something I'd promote given the environmental impact.
Fertilizer won't help against scale but this plant seems a bit yellow.
Fertilizer won't help against scale but this plant seems a bit yellow.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
That is fersure.
I just got ants inside on mine, following them to the scale, then burning it!
Good news....it's spring!
Sorce
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
Scale doesn't normally occur on the leaves, almost always they cluster on the stems. If they occupied leaves it would be a suicide mission. There is nothing wrong with this plant. It is the time of year that inner, older foliage dies and is replaced by new exterior foliage. The plant is on its way to becoming leggy, which is the natural plan of plants. If you want to keep it looking approximately the way it is or was maybe a year ago, remove all the leader buds on stems you want to stay the length they are and leave them be on the branches that wouldn't be too long if the continued to elongate. Cut just above the bud in the axil of the 2nd leaf on each stem. Fertilize with any commercial liquid (Miracle Grow, et al) when you see new buds extending, once a month thereafter until September. Enjoy!
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Unless you want thicker branches. You wouldn't do what Forsoothe is telling you to do. Adam Lavigne told me to allow branches to run to thicken them. You focus on one thing at a time while in development. I certainly wouldn't have gotten the branches thick if I didn't allow them to grow. I'm focused on structure for this tree. The rest will come once its set. First photo 2019...photo below was winter 2020. You need to decide on structure of your tree. What you want to focus on. Before cutting those grow tips. You thicken...then cut back for ramification and back budding.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
As for scale...I can't tell by your photos. They do leave a sticky coating on foliage when present. Another sign of the sap suckers.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
...Verses an economical tree.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
ceriano
Shohin
Will these work?
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I've not used any of those products on scale...I am not a fan of systematic either...BUT...I did have scale on my tigerbark this winter. I smashed what I could visibly see...and tossed some of this on it.
I will say, you won't see me using this harsh of treatment to any flowering species. But on a ficus...I caved.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BWZ9U8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_asin_image
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
*I don't like to spray for treatment inside my home. Thus why I used the granular. I happen to have compromised respiratory.
Someone else may have used something which is a spray with success. So wait to see what others say.
Someone else may have used something which is a spray with success. So wait to see what others say.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I use Pyola as an indoor (and greenhouse) spray. But I prefer to use a Bayer Rose 3-in-1 systemic because I don't like granules. Doesn't work any different, but I'm clumsy and I don't like grains that get moved around when I water.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I was just watching my ants thinking about...
The little groove in the top side of the petiole...you can run a pin head down that to get em from in there. By the third branch, you are funneling the leaf and scraping the right area faster blind then looking.
I don't usually find them on leaves either, but the ants are ensuring the get to the best places to eff up my tree!
On with the fire. They will be outside soon and never again brought indoors without my centopedial friends.
Sorce
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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@ceriano - The first product you linked to will work and is safe enough to use. It will not harm the ficus. Do walk the tree outside to apply the spray. or set the tree in a bathtub or shower stall. Then bring the tree back inside once it has stopped dripping. The Bayer product is meant to be used outdoors.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
A moderate infestation will have scale/eggs in the grove of the stem at the base of the leaf. And will continue along that same groove in the leaf if you let them!! Really, they'll be everywhere.
In my experience they love the growing tip where the freshest/juiciest foliage emerges.
Mechanical removal is pretty effective to a point. But with several generations reproducing, you will miss certain stages like egg incubation, hatch, mature...etc.....you'll need to go to the spray/systemic.
I prefer a spray as I find systemic granules to not provide the efficacy necessary. I've not had great success, your mileage may vary.....
Certainly exercise proper safety protocols if you go to the spray, PPE and of course, outdoors.
DIY cure? Dish soap in a spray bottle mixed with water.
Good luck, and act quickly before the "generations" start stacking up!!!
In my experience they love the growing tip where the freshest/juiciest foliage emerges.
Mechanical removal is pretty effective to a point. But with several generations reproducing, you will miss certain stages like egg incubation, hatch, mature...etc.....you'll need to go to the spray/systemic.
I prefer a spray as I find systemic granules to not provide the efficacy necessary. I've not had great success, your mileage may vary.....
Certainly exercise proper safety protocols if you go to the spray, PPE and of course, outdoors.
DIY cure? Dish soap in a spray bottle mixed with water.
Good luck, and act quickly before the "generations" start stacking up!!!
