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I have a number of orchids, which are doing well in general terms, but which are becoming increasingly infested with scale insects.

I've tried manual removal, and spraying with such things as Neem oil, washing up liquid and various other old wives' tales, but nothing has helped.

They are mostly blooming quite happily, and the leaves seem in decent condition, other than the inevitable stickiness. The flowers show various levels of infestation, from none at all...

healthy flowers with little infestation

...to heavy...

enter image description here

The stems are generally well infested...

scale insects on stem

Is there anything I can do, other than throw them all out and buy new ones?

Avrohom Yisroel
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1 Answers1

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There is definitely a scale infestation - not sure what they are on the flowers though, but I suppose they could be crawlers from the adult scales. Orchid scale is difficult to deal with - as you've tried more natural remedies already, you may have to try an insecticide, but orchids differ in regard to how they respond to insecticide sprays, and they may cause damage. If you haven't tried isopropyl alcohol for the ones on the stems yet, that is worth trying, but you can't use that on the flowers. Further info here https://www.thespruce.com/get-rid-of-orchid-scale-1902838

Bamboo
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  • Thanks for that. Looks like it would be easier to throw them out and buy some new ones. Don't like doing that, but it seems to be a never-ending battle, and with small children around, I don't like the idea of insecticides. Thanks again. – Avrohom Yisroel Oct 27 '19 at 15:56
  • If you buy more later on, inspect them carefully before you pay - their presence at point of sale is usually how they arrive – Bamboo Oct 27 '19 at 16:17
  • Good point, thaks – Avrohom Yisroel Oct 27 '19 at 16:54