Dealing with scale on citrus trees and other plants
You can’t expect to grow a robust lemon tree outdoors in most zones colder than zone 9. But you can care for the same citrus year after year by growing it in a container and overwintering the plant indoors. Michele moves her potted lemon tree and potted bay plant into her home for the winter season. But overwintered plants can be susceptible to common houseplant diseases while sharing the space inside. By the time spring returns and it’s warm enough to move the plants outside, they often are dusty and infected with scale. Instead of applying insecticidal soap, Michele opted for a faster and more thorough solution to removing the scale and dust.
Use a mesh-covered sponge to gently remove scale from plant leaves
She grabbed a Dobie sponge (though any similar mesh-covered sponge should do the trick) and lightly scraped it across the tops and undersides of leaves, rinsing the sponge every few leaves to let the scale wash down the drain. The mesh casing of the sponge adds just enough abrasion to peel off the scale without harming the leaf, and the damp sponge adds a little moisture to help remove the layer of dust as well. While you’re at it, check all your houseplants for scale infestations and get them taken care of at the same time. A sponge makes the task quicker, easier and less messy!
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