How to Control Scale Insects on Indoor Plants

Last Updated: August 16, 2021 References Approved

If inside plants are infested, you may be looking for a way to control scale insects on indoor plants. These tan or brown shell, sap-eating insects like to live on the stems or the leaves of the plants in your home or your greenhouse. Scale insects can look hemispherical, oval, or flat, and they can ruin a plant and stunt its growth by sucking out the sap. Scales can often be seen if you flip a leaf upside down and check out where the leaf portion of the plant joins the stem. You can also find them at the root of the plant or in the stem crevices, all which make controlling them difficult. The secretions can also lead to the growth of sooty mold, a fungus that is black, in your home. But you can easily get rid of the insects to keep your plants in optimal health.

Steps

1
Pick off each insect from your plant or work the insect loose from your plant by using tweezers or your hands and collecting the scales in a towel or paper towel to carry them away for disposal. This works best on plants with large leaves.^{[1]
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2
Dab each insect using a cotton ball or swab that has been soaked in alcohol if your plant only has a light infestation.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Missouri Botanical Garden
Oldest botanical garden in the U.S. and center for botanical research and science education
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3
Use an insecticide spray or create your own spray using mild dish soap. Results are generally only seen, though, after at least 1 month of regular application either by spraying on the mixture or wiping it on with a soft cloth. Make sure that any insecticide you use has a container labeled for inside plant use only.^{[3]
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4
Prune heavily-infested plants to reduce the picking off or scrubbing that you need to do. Optionally, put what you have trimmed off the plant into a plastic bag before you walk through your home to put it in a disposal bin.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Extension program of the University of California system devoted to educating and improving local communities
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5
Consider the use of horticultural oil or neem oil to remove scales on your plant.^{[5]
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6
Buy a natural predator insect as another alternative. This technique is referred to as integrated pest management (IPM), and all you have to do is put the predator insect directly on your plant. Once the scales have all be eaten off, the predator insect will die from lack of food.^{[6]
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7
Quarantine any infested plants in a different area of your house to ensure that your other plants do not become infested.

Community Q&A

Question

Do scale insects live in the soil of indoor plants?

Community Answer

Yes, they may infest plant even indoors. Ants love them, so if your plant has attracted ants, check for these pests.
Question

Do scale insects leave white mold-like spots?

Community Answer

Scale insects look like brownish scales on the stem and roots . The white molds you mention could be white aphids, white fungus, or powdery mildew.
Question

If I submerge the whole plant in water for a period of a few hours, will the scale insects drown?

Community Answer

This is tricky, I usually bathe my plants thoroughly by spraying them with a strong water shower. A mild soapy solution also helps. Strong sunlight helps after this. Sometimes manual scraping the stem with a sharp instrument helps.