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Lemon plant
Dilip_UK
Posts: 114
Have sticky leaves on my lemon plant, closer inspection shows - scale. I have cleaned the leaves with very weak soapy water and removed as such scale as I can, have had two attempts now and I still have sticky leaves. I will keep cleaning but I plan to try Neem oil. I have purchased 100% pure stuff and horticulture soap. I have flowers developing on the plant. I am not sure if I should drench the roots with Neem or shall I spray. I think spray may interfere with flowering buds. Any suggestions, spray or root drench. The plant is in the porch at the moment not moved outside yet.
many thanks
many thanks
0
Posts
Neem oil is harmless but works by sticking insects in place so they can't move and eventually kills them. That's why you need to use it several times.
I doubt neem oil will work with scale insects as they don't move until the the larvae emerge from under the 'shell'
You're best sticking to removing them with a toothbrush or a fingernail. Once they're gone they're gone.
My blueberries get some every summer - I just flick them off with a fingernail.
Don't worry too much about the sticky leaves, when your tree is outside the rain will wash it off after a while. Or you can use water and a paper towel, but the sticky stuff will cause no harm to your tree.
I'd suggest using a seaweed extract drench once or twice a month for your tree. It will help build up resistance to pests and diseases so with a bit of luck they won't return.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.