Would a couple capfuls of oil based fish emulsion be enough in a two gallon sprayer full of water to which I add a tablespoon of dish soap (i use fels naptha in the garden), an emulsified lemon, and a few garlic? Several people suggested spraying with the fish emulsion just once a month. A year ago I sprayed a citrus with about 1/4 cup vegetable oil and a few drops of soap to a two gallon water solution--and about 3/4 of the leaves fell off. It was later in the year--probably after the spring flush had been well underway. (lost many Bufordii Holly leaves too) So I sure don't want to do that again. I have to add that last year my oranges had what is called 'sharkskin' so I must have had RUST MITES. I have not seen these mites with my own eyes--AND OF COURSE THOSE LEAFMINERS--which I have not seen either. Is there a mixture I can make as a preventive or cure? for the RUST MITES? Thank you very much!

I used organicide while my plants were outside, before coming in for winter. It worked very well. I divided the gallon that I made between two trees (Bearrs lime and Pink Variegated Eureka). The plants did however smell bad for a good two weeks, and they had to go through two rain showers and a water down by me. The smell did disipate after a while. My only concern was that once they came in the trees dropped their leaves. I'm not sure if the organocide had anything to do with this, but it might have. So depending on how you feel about the product, go for it. I would use it again... only not indoors, and I would leave them out for about 3 weeks after spraying... oh, and I only sprayed once! I also have been using dishwashing liquid in water and spraying the trees everyday. This helps also.

If the natural predators are not controlling them, and insecticidal soaps are not very effective, the next, least toxic, step is to spray superior oils carefully on the scales. Follow label directions carefully and do not spray if predators and parasites are around.

The labels of a couple of different products containing Neem oil lists scale as one of the targets that they will control, so if what you used lists scale on the lable it probably will control them. The rubbing alcohol sprays may sometimes work, if the scale saturates the scales protective cover, but often those sprays do more harm to plants then the target insect.