What to do when gardenia is harmed by scale insects? A few tricks to easily prevent and control them

Gardenia flowers are pure white with a rich fragrance, deeply loved by flower growers. But growers often find that their gardenias are constantly attacked by scale insects. Scale insects lay their eggs in the soil, and their larvae are mostly snow-white willow catkin-like in shape and move very slowly.

If larvae are found, omethoate can be sprayed promptly; generally, the egg and larval stages are easier to eliminate. Adults grow a waxy shell on their body surface, which ordinary insecticides cannot easily penetrate. They suck the sap from plant leaves and branches, causing great harm to the plant. Affected plants not only grow poorly but also show yellowing leaves and premature leaf drop, and in severe cases the plant may wither and die.

The main causes of scale insect outbreaks are long-term excessive moisture in the potting soil during cultivation and a poorly ventilated growing environment. When there are few insects, you can use a brush to brush them off along the leaves and branches, or wash them off with a strong stream of water, while cutting off diseased branches and leaves and destroying them centrally.

If there are many insects, you can spray a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos. You can also mix baijiu with water at a 1:2 ratio, pour it into the soil, water once every two weeks, and two consecutive times will clear them. At the same time, dip a cotton cloth in white vinegar or alcohol and wipe back and forth on the branches and leaves. This not only eliminates scale insects but also kills other invisible pests, while also making the plant's leaves glossy and green.

After the insects are cleared away, move the gardenia to a position with better light and ventilation, and do not water until the potting soil is dry, to prevent another pest outbreak. To prevent pests from spreading, in early spring each year you can spray the plant with 0.2-0.5 degree lime sulfur mixture to kill the eggs. Lime sulfur mixture is very effective in controlling plant powdery mildew, brown spot disease, and various pests and diseases such as red spider mites and scale insects.