Scalesare bothersome insects that often attack potted plants. These pests can usually be seen on the underside of the leaves. Their bodies are covered with a flat, oval shield with a diameter of 1 to 2 mm. Fortunately, there are safe and simplehome remedies to combat scalewithout the need to purchase special preparations at garden stores. Here are the3 home remedies for scalersthat will help you get rid of these pests!
Scales on lemon leaves
Fig. Tadek, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
1. Mechanical removal of scale
The most effective method of fighting with scale scales is their mechanical removal from plants.We remove scales from the plant with a toothpick or, when there are a lot of them, with a hard toothbrushBefore that, we spread paper under the plant, on which the insects detached from the plant will land.
Then,to get rid of eggs and scale larvae that are invisible to the naked eye, wash the leaves with a cotton pad soaked in a solution of denatured alcohol or spirit(1-2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) with a few drops washing up liquid. Alternative means can be gray soap (we give 20 g per 1 liter of water) or diluted vinegar. After each stroke on the leaf or the stem, replace the swab with a fresh one, and after the entire treatment, thoroughly rinse the plant under the shower.
In order tosuccessfully fight scale scales using the above method , cleaning the plants should be carried out several times, at intervals of 10 days, until we get rid of all scale.
Scales can be fought with a cotton ball soaked in a solution of denatured alcohol or spirit. Photo pixabay.com
2. Fighting scale discs with oil spray
If there are too many plants attacked with scalefish to remove pests by hand, it is worth spraying ecologically instead.A good method of fighting scale discs is to spray them with oilThe oil sticks to the bodies of scale, cutting off their air access.
To prepare the spraying of scales , we can use edible oil (e.g. rapeseed oil), olive oil or paraffin oil (available in pharmacies). Prepare the preparation by mixing 10 ml of oil with 1 liter of warm water and a few drops of washing-up liquid. We mix everything thoroughly and pour it into the sprayer tank. Thenspray the plants thoroughly, paying particular attention to the underside of the leaves and the hollows of the stem
Grinders can be combated with cooking oil-based spraying. Photo pixabay.com
Spraying against scales is best done in the eveningwhen the temperature does not exceed 25 ° C. A few days after the treatment, thoroughly rinse the sprayed plants, because the oil also clogs the stomata and hinders gas exchange by the plants. Before that, to thoroughly remove oil residue from the leaves, we can wash the plant with gray soap dissolved in water.
Oil spraying should be repeated three times with an interval of 5 days for the oil spray to be fully effective. Ifyou do not want to prepare mixtures for spraying on scaleyourself, it is worth reaching for the oil Emulpar Spray, available in garden stores. It is a ready-to-use solution in a spray bottle, based on natural and safe for home-use camomile oil.
3. Fighting scale discs with tobacco spray
Anotherhome-made method for scalers is spraying the plants with tobacco decoction . The nicotine contained in tobacco, absorbed by scales from plant leaves during feeding, is toxic to these pests.
For the preparation oftobacco brew against scalewe need tobacco from 10-12 cigarettes. Pour the tobacco into a vessel, pour 1 liter of water at room temperature and leave it for 5-8 hours. After this time, cook the resulting solution for 20-30 minutes (until it boils), covered. Cool and strain the ready stock. Then we dilute it in water in a ratio of 1: 4 and pour it into the sprayer. It is worth adding a drop of soap, which will improve the adhesion of the agent to plant leaves.
Before spraying with tobaccowe protect the soil in the pot with foil. Thanks to this, the preparation does not get to the plant roots. Spray the properly prepared plant with the prepared preparation. Repeat the spraying after approx. 10 days.
Good to knowTobacco spraying is best done outside living quarters (eg on a balcony). Tobacco stock is also an excellent remedy for other pests, such as whitefly and aphids. It can be used to fight pests both in the cultivation of potted and garden plants. Remember, however, that tobacco decoction is also toxic to beneficial insects, so use it carefully in the garden and outside the hours of bee flight.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
