Are the leaves of your garden or house plants discoloring or deforming and do you discover small insects on your garden or house plants? Then there is a good chance that you are suffering from scale insects and/or scale insects. Fortunately, with our handy tips and products you can get rid of scale insects and/or scales in no time.

The difference between the scale insect and scale

Aphid
The scale insect is a 4 mm long louse that is often confused with the scale insect. The aphid also has a shield that protects it, but this is in the form of a cap. When the aphids are still young, they are flat and light in color. When they are adults, you can only recognize the females by their shell. This shell is fused to their body, but underneath there is a huge amount of eggs. The so-called crawlers , these are the young of the shellfish. Adult scale insects often sit quietly in one place. Often in the veins of the leaf or on the stem. The crawlers, on the other hand, are active and crawl over the entire plant.

The aphid sucks the nutrients from your plants, causing the leaves to turn yellow and may fall off. The aphid can be found on the leaves, but also on the stem and even on the root ball of your plant. The aphid is particularly common in Ficus, Orchid and various palm species.

Scale
The scale insect resembles the scale insect, but is slightly smaller (1 to 3 mm in size). This louse has a horn-like shield with which it protects itself against external dangers. The scale insect sucks on the plant and, as it were, injects your houseplant with a toxic substance. The result? Yellow, red or brown spots will appear on the leaves and eventually the leaves will die, grow less quickly or deform. You often find scale on the underside of leaves and on the stem of the plant.

Causes of the scale insect and scale

• Dry air : both types of aphids are more common in a room with dry air or on plants that are exposed to drafts. Make sure your plants are in a place that is good for their resistance. Some plants like dry air and are then more resistant to aphids.
• Less strong plants: scale insects and scale insects occur in plants that are less strong. Keep your plants vital by regularly feeding them and providing them with sufficient water. Also make sure that your plant starts with good potting soil. This way the plant is stronger and the scale insect or scale insect has less interest in your plant.
• Too much lime: scale insects love a soil with a lot of lime. Prevent too much lime in your potting soil by repotting affected plants with new potting soil.

Spread of the lice

Lice can be spread by touching a diseased plant, which can transmit the lice. The louse can be transmitted via:

• insects;
• Birds;
• Pets;
• Wind;
• Clothing.

Make sure you handle or care for the infected plant with gloves. This way you prevent yourself from transferring the aphids to healthy plants.

Biologically combat scale and scale insects

The lice are difficult to combat because of the shields that protect them well. Don't the shell and scale insects go away on their own? Then try our responsible and organic problem solvers.