Finding a scale infestation on your plants for the first time can feel daunting, especially for new plant moms and plant dads. These tiny, sap-sucking insects can wreak havoc on your plants if left unchecked. In this guide, we'll explore some of the most effective ways to get rid of scale and restore a healthy balance to your indoor jungle oasis. 

What are scale insects? 

Scale refers to a group of small, often inconspicuous insects that attach themselves to the leaves and stems of your plants, feeding on their sap. These pests can vary in color, size, and shape, making them sometimes challenging to identify. 

Scale infestation can lead to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and often if left untreated, plant death. The continuous sap extraction weakens the host plants, making them vulnerable to other pests and general overall decline. 

How do I know if I have a Scale Infestation? 

Recognizing the early signs of scale infestation is crucial for effective intervention. Keep an eye out for sticky residue, yellowing leaves, and the presence of tiny, shell-like structures on plant surfaces.

As scale insects feed on plant sap, they excrete a shiny, sticky substance called honeydew—spotting this residue on my plant’s leaves is usually one of the earliest indicators of this pest.

Adult scale insects are often covered by a hard, protective shell that can be brown, black, or even pinkish in color. This shell can make them resemble tiny bumps or growths on plants. 

How do I treat scale insects naturally and organically? 

Manual Removal

Honestly, the most effective and straightforward first step in dealing with scale is manual removal. Most other treatments likely won’t be very effective without first manually removing as many of these scale insects as you can from your houseplant. 

Scale insects can be physically removed using your fingers, a soft brush, or cloth. This is partly why regular dusting and wiping of your plant’s leaves can be very effective, especially on larger leaved houseplants, for long-term maintenance and prevention. 

You can use a simple mixture of mild soap and water or a neem oil solution on your cleaning cloth to help you loosen and remove scale from your plant’s leaves and stems without harming your plant’s delicate leaf tissues. Regular application not only helps keep your plant’s leaves shiny and clean but may help slow reinfestations. 

Introduce Natural Predators 

Biological control using natural predators like lacewings might help you manage severe or ongoing scale infestations. Lacewings are considered beneficial insects that prey on many types of small insects that damage your plants, including scale.

Introducing natural predators into your indoor jungle oasis is not for everyone. But, I have tried it personally and I find it to be not as "weird" or "gross" as perhaps it sounds.

How do I treat scale insects conventionally? 

While insecticidal soaps can be effective at treating scale at the larval stage, I find that they’re far less effective at treating adult scale. By the time most of us figure out we have scale on our plants, it’s when they’ve grown into adults with a hard, protective shell that helps protect them from these kinds of treatments.

This is why I typically don’t recommend insecticidal soaps for scale, but I have found the following treatment relatively effective over the long-haul.

Systemic Insecticide

Systemtic insecticides work differently than insecticidal soaps and can be effective against scale over the long haul. Even when using a product designed for use in organic growing, always ensure you follow all product safety instructions.

Systemic insecticides are absorbed by the plant, through its roots, and are then ingested by pests when they feed on the plant and this is why they can be much more effective against scale than topical insecticides.

It takes time for this treatment method to work, so I highly recommend pairing it with manual removal of scale insects on a weekly basis until your scale infestation is no longer present. 

Preventing Scale Infestations

Regular Inspection and Maintenance 

Frequent inspection of plants, especially the undersides of leaves, is essential for early detection. I like to use a bright flashlight and shine it through the leaf—this method makes it easier to notice the tiny round dots where small scale might be finding a foothold along veins of your plant's leaves.

I also like to keep an eye out for sticky residue on my plants or on the area beneath the plant, as this is often another way to spot scale insect damage before a full-scale infestation takes place. 

Maintain General Plant Health 

It might seem obvious, but I find that a generally happy and healthy houseplant is far less likely to come down with an infestation of any kind. Make sure your plant has the light it needs and doesn’t remain chronically over or underwatered because these prolonged stress states can make your plants weaker and more susceptible to pest infestations over time.

Quarantine Measures for New Plants

Quarantine new plants before introducing them to your indoor jungle as one way to help prevent the spread of scale and other pests that might be hiding out on new plants. If possible, consider monitoring the isolated plants for signs of infestation for a couple of weeks before integrating them into the general population of your houseplant jungle.

Conclusion 

In the battle against scale, a proactive and holistic approach is key. By understanding the pests, identifying infestations early, and implementing effective control measures, you can maintain a healthy and thriving indoor jungle. 

FAQs 

1. Can scale infestations be prevented entirely?
   • While complete prevention may be challenging, proactive measures like those mentioned above can significantly reduce the risk of scale infestations and their spread.
2. Are chemical solutions safe for the environment?
   • I generally prefer to use manual and organic techniques as a first response, and then conventional treatments only as a last resort. When I do use conventional treatments, I am always sure to use them judiciously by applying them responsibly and according to instructions. Always take special consideration when deciding whether to apply these treatment methods when small children or pets are around.
3. How quickly can natural remedies show results?
   • Immediately. Scale insects can be effectively removed manually on smaller plants and sometimes that may be all the treatment that is necessary. Consistent and thorough inspections are key. But sometimes I find that certain plants are simply susceptible to reoccurring infestations—you may wish to reconsider replacing them as I have done on occasion. Even individual members of the same species can be differently susceptible to an infestation.
4. What should I do if scale infestation persists despite efforts?
   • In persistent cases, it may be worth considering conventional treatment. If you are unable to isolate and consistently inspect and treat your plant while it is recovering from an infestation, then the most effective course of action may be simply to replace the plant in order to risk a scale infestation from spreading across your collection of houseplants.
     

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