Hi Ashley,

It stinks when one has a problem with these stupid pests'...I hate them. I had them last winter because I didn't treat certain ones last summer, let alone mine also caught thrips, mealy and a host of other pests from my work.

I use the FE to avoid these pest's...I have also never had a problem with them spaying at least once a week starting in the early spring before I ever have a problem, or before they ever get a foothold...For me, it has always been a good preventive...I have heard of a few members here that have used FE solely to rid them, including my friends.

I have had to use NEEM oil though with a severe outbreak, and that did the trick for me..I had to treat every 3-5 days for a couple of weeks, until they were gone..I also scraped them off with a Q-tip and alcohol, the ones I could see anyway.. Then I have also used an alcohol spray. At one point, I had to cut one of my trees way back to the trunk to rid many affected branches to be safe...You may have to take drastic steps if the problem is bad..I have NEVER had to throw away a plant though, as many have suggested.

It has been my experience and many others that they have been able to avoid them by keeping up a good routine of spraying FE..

I will link you to a post that explains scale in more detail and ways of irradiating them...

I have used pure cold pressed FE from "Neptunes Harvest", and I can't imagine it being any different from any other FE, at least that is what I have been told here and abroad..

Scale can leave a shell behind on the bark..If you scrape them with your fingernail, and see a fluid substance, then they are still alive...Rhizzo will correct me if I am wrong.But when they are dead, they are dried up shells on the branches that can be just scarped off..

Good luck and keep us informed..

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: scale

Hi Ash,

One more thread you might enjoy...Doing a little research, I found the article that confirmed my suspicion since I was using Fe before I even came here which helped me realize that FE does have a positive effect on my plants...

Notice hopefulauthors response and pay particular interest to Rhizzo..

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Rid scale

Thank you very much for putting so much thought and effort into my scale issue. That was very nice of you!
Now, i have added Neem oil to my arsenal. Will try it and see how things work out.

Have you tried garlic water. Crush a few garlic cloves and put them in an empty, clean mayonnaise jar. Sit it in the sun for several days. Strain and save the water. Put in a sprayer and add a few drops of dish soap. The odor alone will drive them away.

>> The odor alone will drive them away.
Thank you! That is easily doable for me. Will definitely give it a try.

I've also heard of garlic and onion together to keep pests away.

JoJo

Why dont you just use a horticulture oil it mixes well with water and is easy to use in a 1 gallon hand pump container.
I would think 2-3 sprays would work. Spray wait 2 weeks spray again.

Hmm.. if you had a choice between posting on GW or having some fresh Zucchini bread what would you choose :)

tomcitrus, the Fish Emulsion and Neem oil that was recommended above to me as well as garlic oil spray are all indeed a version of "horticultural oils". These are "organic" and harmless to my plants and me.
My plants are bearing fruit and I will never spray edibles with petroleum derivatives and feed it to my family. My quest for a harmless and effective cure without using petrochemicals is the reason for this thread.
As for Zucchini bread - don't know what that has got to do with scale on citrus - but, maybe I am a lot dumber than I thought :)

You can always try vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons per gallon along with 1 tablespoon per gallon of dish soap like Dawn instead of the ineffective "organics" you have been trying. The organics you have tried except for the neem oil would best kill citrus scale if the bottle were dropped from a high place on the scale. The scale will eventually kill your trees if not controlled.

Two applications of horticultural oil will eliminate the scale while being very easy on the environment. If you want to be easier on the environment ride the bus or carpool instead of using a personal car.

Here is a link that might be useful: mrtexas

Thank you Mr Texas. I value your advise a lot. I am using Neem oil this week. If this does not work, I will try the vegetable oil as suggested by you. I have no problem with anybody using personal cars - my problem is with my kids consuming petrochemicals (Superior Petroleum Oil is what most of horticultural oils are made out of, if I remember) sprayed on their food stuff (in this case citrus fruits) - it is gross to think that my kid is eating an orange sprayed with "petroleum oil" and it might have seeped in through the pores of the skin of the fruit.
PS: I do carpool to work, but that is not the point of this topic.