Treatment for scale?

[personalparadise]

So I am pretty sure I have scale and it is spreading fast on my majesty palm (Ravenea Rivularis). This has never been been something I have had to deal with in San Antonio when I got it a year ago, but i recently moved to Kansas (USDA Zone 5, Sunset Zone 2!) so my old resources are all gone. After calling around only one nursery even carries palms, and they didn't even know what type of palm they had. (It was a chinese fan palm, so clearly not well versed.) So now here comes my issue, What do I use to treat scale???

I know it is an insect, but beyond that I am clueless. Is there something in particular I need to use to treat it, active ingredient wise? Any short term advice to keep them in check until I get the insecticide in case I have to order it? Anyone have advice on how to keep scale away in the future?

[AggiePalms]

I have never had to treat my palms for scale, fortunately, but my general comment is the least poisonous the treatment, the better...you can always go to more dangerous chemicals as needed. On other plants I have used a light insecticidal oil spray to suffocate the scale. Not dangerous to the surrounding environment, but please check online for its effects on palms...I don't want to tell you to kill the only Majesty in Kansas! The nursery should have that. You won't have any sun scald issues in KS this time of year with the oil, for sure.

Let us know how your palm grows in Kansas (obviously inside for the winter). Welcome aboard!

[_Rich]

So I am pretty sure I have scale and it is spreading fast on my majesty palm (Ravenea Rivularis). This has never been been something I have had to deal with in San Antonio when I got it a year ago, but i recently moved to Kansas (USDA Zone 5, Sunset Zone 2!) so my old resources are all gone. After calling around only one nursery even carries palms, and they didn't even know what type of palm they had. (It was a chinese fan palm, so clearly not well versed.) So now here comes my issue, What do I use to treat scale???

I know it is an insect, but beyond that I am clueless. Is there something in particular I need to use to treat it, active ingredient wise? Any short term advice to keep them in check until I get the insecticide in case I have to order it? Anyone have advice on how to keep scale away in the future?

Welcome to the forum and you are definitely in the right place for help. There are numerous prior threads on here concerning the treatment of scale or what might be mealy bugs. An effective systemic (soil) treatment for scale on sago "palms" is the use of coffee grounds. The alkaloids will be taken up through the roots and kill the scale. I've also used malathion plus - which is an Ortho branded product with some success. Other ideas posted on the forum included using the residual liquid laundry soap - filling the empty container up with water for an effective solution - or the use of horticultural oil to suffocate the pest.

Here's what I could find quickly for you:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=24784&st=0&p=412791&hl=laundry&fromsearch=1&#entry412791

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=23351&st=0&p=389094&hl=laundry&fromsearch=1&#entry389094

Best of luck,

Rich

[personalparadise]

Thanks for the links, Rich! I tried searching but I don't have the skills you do!

I have already had to scrape ice off my windows 3 times already, So between cold air leaking though windows and doors and the total lack of humidity year round here, I am praying to every god out there that my palms survive until it warms up in May.

[AggiePalms]

Thanks for the links, Rich! I tried searching but I don't have the skills you do!

I have already had to scrape ice off my windows 3 times already, So between cold air leaking though windows and doors and the total lack of humidity year round here, I am praying to every god out there that my palms survive until it warms up in May.

Ah, Sarah, you aren't in Texas anymore!

[BS Man about Palms]

Welcome and good luck!!

[carver]

I have heard of used coffee grounds being dumped onto the crown of palms and cycads. I was told they use this in gardens in China as a topical, systemic for scale and other sucking pests. I have been using it around my bamboos for several months and seems to have helped with mealy bug. A friend of mine has been using neem cake, smells just like used coffee grounds, and has had success as a systemic for some of his plants. Hope any of this helps, Brian

[personalparadise]

I have heard about the coffee grounds thing too, but never thought I needed to try it and have since forgot about it until reading Rich's links. I think I am going to put some around at least 1/2 of my bamboo palm juveniles. They are in a separate quarantine in a different part of my house (might have been exposed but I haven't seen any on them yet) but I guess now is the best time to try it out.

[PalmatierMeg]

Sarah, welcome to PalmTalk. The advice about coffee grounds is great. Also, you could run a pot of water through used coffee grounds after your morning coffee. Put some of that weak brew into a spray bottle and give the palm a thorough misting (being careful to protect your household furnishings from coffee stains). A good dunking ought to help knock down those nasties while the systemic method gets to work and won't be as toxic as using insecticides indoors.