I had some scale last fall. I had it off and on for over a year. It just loved my catts. yet left all of my paphs (which is the majority of my collection) alone. I tried a few nasty chemicals but let me tell you what really put them to rest. I went threw my whole collection of about 900 plants and picked up each and every one of them. I sprayed Sun Oil (which can be any light horticulture oil, that you can get at Home Depot or Lowes). The only horticulture oil I could find this time was in a sprayer that you hooked to your house. I bought it and opened it up and mixed 1 tablespoon per liter of H2O with a small squirt of liquid hand soap. I sprayed each and every plant in every direction that I could. Then all the ones that I thought I even saw an indication of scale I put on one shelf. Then I sprayed just those plants heavily in one week. Then I did it again for 4 weeks running. Haven't seen another one since. Worked for me and it should for you. Another trick if you only have a small collection is to repot them all in fresh media. When they are out of the pots spray them with the mixture of horticulture oil. Especially pay attention to the underside of the leaves and any small places where new growth it pushing againg the old growth. Bob in Albany, N.Y.

I would wait until late afternoon or early evening. Add 1 capful of Fish Emulsion, 2 drops of dish soap, (not Dawn) lemon or some sort of citrus juice, and garlic juice and water. I use a 16oz water bottle/mister. Mix all ingredients, then spray your Prickly Pear and neighboring plants..(Fill mister w/water) Also, inspect neighboring plants..scale move about.. This mix is safe and chemical-free. I used it after receiving an Olive tree loaded with scale. They died within days..I didn't see the scale at first, so it was placed next to various citrus trees..Nearby citrus branches were infested. I sprayed every plant in the entire area, scale or no scale..Believe me, it works, and you don't have to worry about toxins..Toni

John, the pesticide mentioned in that very good informational site is Confidor, the brand name one of the many insecticides with Imidicloprid as the active ingredient. It is used as a soil drench because it is systemic. It's much more efficient to have a plant absorb this particular chemical into its system to control pests than to spray over the top. Imidicloprid can be found in a host of pesticides for the systemic control of aphids, mealybugs, whitefly, and scale. Its use, by the way, is well known to increase the population of spider mites and thrips. And before anyone asks...Imidicloprid is one of the very few systemics listed for use on edible crops, including citrus. It's not something that should be used unless you understand the timing of such applications so that the fruit or vegetable can be eaten safely. Again, systemics enter the system of plants, making the sap and other juices toxic to those that might ingest it. Wizzard, an untended scale infestation can kill plants. How quickly that can happen depends upon the species of scale, the species of plant, and the overall vigor of the plant. You chose the best option for your cotoneaster, a horticultural oil. A light spray can really help in getting these pests under control. Scale insects won't be completely killed with one application, but an occasional misting will do the trick. Horticultural oils are something that every plant grower should have on hand, including those who try to grow organically. With oils, it's important to avoid spraying in very warm or very cold temperatures. Gloxinia, horticultural oil is your best bet. Read and follow the directions. Also, I am curious about your kiwi. When kiwi are purchased from a bonafide nursery, it will be clearly labeled as a male OR a female plant. What was the name of the kiwi you purchased? They can be grown in a container for the first year (5 gallon) but won't take kindly to that for much longer than that, I don't think. Don't really know from first hand experience.

I never had a scale infestation on AVs, but a friend brought me a species Begona with scale. I kept it in isolation - and used everything I could imagine and experts advised including some heavy systemic stuff. Ended chucking it. Couldn't get rid of them no matter what. But probably I got some cast iron scale. I am thinking that if you take the uninfested leaves and top of the crowns off, soak them in a rubbing alcohol solution - 1:4 with water for 10 min, rinse them in a clean water , recut the stem - and root them in AV soil under the domes - you have a chance. Make sure that the rest of the plants is disposed ASAP - the scale produce very fast moving progeny and you do not want to reinfest anything,. Probably spraying the leaves and rootng crowns 3 more times week apart with something - would be a good precaution. So if there is an egg hiding somewhere and you get the hatchilngs - you want to nail them befor they got attached and grew an invincible shield.