Tedius and not very effective....these insects will be found on the leaves and stems and in every nook and cranny. IF alcohol kills scale, then a solution of one part alcohol (isopropyl) to three parts water can be applied with a spray bottle. Scale are not something I would use alcohol for, however. I've not found it very effective. I'd rather see danella purchase a small container of a horticultural oil, mix it up according to label directions, and apply to all surfaces with a plant sprayer. Oils should not be applied in high temperatures, which is why I asked if this plant is out or in. The oil needs to cover every surface of the plant, so don a pair of disposable gloves in order to mist with one hand and carefully turn the leaves over so that the backs can be sprayed. My favorite scenario would be that the plant gets a mild soap and water sponge bath first, then the hort. oil treatment. Follow the label directions pertaining to the follow up applications. Be sure to inspect other plants.

Well I thought I would give you all a staus up date on my situation: I have wrote letters, cards, emails, telling her exactly what was suggested on here. Thursday night I get this email: David, Well, I've had right close to 4 weeks to think about everything that has happened to us and to our family. You are correct in what you said about how I felt about the whole situation. I feel like I had all this trust for you (finally) and then the bridge just collapsed beneath me. I understand that at the time your intentions were good and that you meant well by doing what you did.....but, at the same time I don't understand how you could have so little trust in me that you wouldn't tell me what was going on. Am I that horrible of a person that we couldn't talk and try to work this out together? Dave, how many times does it take getting your heart broken before you look at yourself in the mirror and wonder..."why am I doing this?" Every time something has happened to us I would just step back and tell myself "Ok Paula, this is the last time something like this will happen".....only to look further across that bridge to see that it has collapsed again. I know that you are making a lot of changes now.....that is awesome-I'm really proud of you. But, the fact of the matter is-will all those changes erase the hurt, distrust, and anger that I have? Will they make me forget everything? The answer is probably not. I want you to know that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life......this is not easy at all. David we have had two beautiful girls together-for that I will be forever grateful to you. I will always love you for the dad that you have and will continue to be to our girls. But, I don't think that I can be the wife that you deserve given the events that have taken place. I already have a hard time trusting people and I feel like if we continued our relationship I would constantly be looking over my shoulder...wondering what is going to come next. Always second guessing and "checking up" on things to make sure everything is kosher. That is no way to live. I feel like the best thing for me to do is to pick up and start over...get my priorities right-make things stable for our girls. I love that you are doing things to change yourself and you are getting help from Ashford (counsler)-it takes alot of courage to sit in an office and put your trust in a complete stranger and to ask them for help. I'm glad you are doing it-for yourself and your girls. I hope that we can still be a support system for each other-I do care an awful lot about you Dave. I also hope that we can continue to be civil to each other and be friendly toward one another (the girls will have a better time adjusting if they are able to see us get along). If there is anything I can do to support you in your changes-I am here for you. I don't hate you at all and I do forgive the situation-I just can't continue with this relationship. I know that what I'm saying in something you don't want to hear and I know that I have probably broken your heart....for that I am sorry. I don't like to hurt anyone-especially you.........I hope that we can still be good friends. love, Paula Then on Saturday she told me that she contacted an attorney and is drafting up a seperation agreement. Yes I am heart broken, and never wanted any of this to happen. I am completly beside myself and am lost without her in my life. I had the girls this weekend, and when I went to take them back, they were both crying that they wanted to stay with me and not go back to there grandma's...where they are staying. I know that they are just as confused as I am and to answer any questions involving the kids...the answer is no. I avoid it at all cost. My question now is this, since she has given up, or in my eyes she has, what are my next steps in this process? I have to thank each and everyone of you for offering your advice and I wish the circumstances were better, but they are not. I do love my wife, and miss her everyday that I am awake. I wanted a chance to make things right, but she has shut the door on our relationship.

A plant's vitality often suffers due to a deficiency of one or more nutrients or a general lack of adequate nutrition. In that case, the advice to "NEVER fertilize a stressed plant" is a death sentence. There are times when the ONLY thing that will reverse the course of a plant already in decline is fertilizer. Also, it's not a good practice to allow the plant to sit in the effluent that's been flushed from the soil while watering. The idea is to flush salts out of the soil and into a collection saucer where they cannot make their way back into the soil. This requires the grower to ensure there is no pathway for water once flushed from the soil to make its way back into the soil - otherwise, flushing the soil does very little good. The easiest way to ensure the salts can't get back into the soil is by raising the pot above the saucer bottom by using some sort of blocks to lift the pot. In the same way it's not necessary to wait until danger of frost has passed before planting your tender annuals and not necessary to have money enough to cover any checks you might write in your checking account, it's not necessary to wait until Summer or late Spring (like around Father's Day - early spring is not a good time to repot houseplants, though there are a few exceptions) to repot; but it IS a good idea. You can pot up any time you get the urge, though it's still better to pot up when the plant is in or is entering the most active part of the growth cycle. Repotting is more involved, and consideration given to the plant's natural rhythms pays off in the form of faster recovery times and less chance that diseases and/or insect infestations will take advantage of a plant weakened for an extended period due to poor timing. Al

I believe they are totally repotting in fresh medium. When I was asking the woman I spoke with about the soil they use there, she told me that the tree is in the soil it arrived in, and that their own soil (the nursery's) for ficus is well aerated and appropriate for the tree. She then said that if I were to buy a pot there she would recommend going up a size to a 12" and that they would do the repot for me. Which I assumed meant that they would completely change out the medium. I was aware of the difference between the terms, but I'm glad that you brought it to my attention again so that I can make sure they're doing a full repot. I would have assumed they would know not to mix the two soils, but it would be better to play it safe and make sure they're doing the whole shebang. I see what you mean about the advice potentially being bad at times though. I think it depends on who you're talking to, just like at a mechanic. The woman seemed to be the owner or at least in charge of the ficus area. Although, when I was looking at the variegated jade plants (I've been researching and preparing to bring one of those home as well) a young man approached me and started talking about their care and pruning. He then told me to prune any all white leaves, and to leave the fully green ones. Which I know to be backwards advice, as the fully green ones don't revert back to being variegated!