Houseplants

I have just diagnosed my Ficus as having scale. It was losing a lot of leaves and I noticed these black things on the branches and from my internet research, it seems like it is scale. It seems like a PIA to get rid of it (i.e., pick each one off with a cotton swab with alcohol). Has anyone had a plant that got scale? And should I just get rid of it and start over? I don't have a green thumb at all and to be honest the thought of the whole thing makes me queasy. DH says I'm crazy!

Re: Houseplants

What kind of ficus is it? Is it the broad flat leaved kind with fleshy leaves? Or is it a tree with the little diamond shaped leaves?

If you don't want to touch the scale (I just flick them off with my fingernail into the garbage can), you can use an old toothbrush but be very gentle so you don't damage the leaves. You have to take them off because the hard shells on the adults protect them from anything you could spray on them.

I fill my spray bottle with water, put in a good squeeze of Dawn dish soap and a capful of Neem Oil (I got my Neem in a garden store). Neem is an organic pesticide and completely safe. Dawn helps keep the oil stuck to the leaves (suffocating the bugs) and enhances the effect of the Neem at killing the bugs.

Then I bring the plant to the sink or tub and spray every square inch of it, including the dirt, until it's dripping wet. Especially the undersides of the leaves, where they hide.

Since you're spraying with oil, you shouldn't put it back into sunlight at least for 24 hours or the leaves will burn.

You have to be diligent with scale. Repeat this process ever 4 days until it's gone. They easily transfer to other plants so if you don't want them to get on anything else, make sure you wash your hands well before you touch any other plants.