Getting rid of scale insects from oleanders: 5 home remedies to control

Significant toxicity preserved oleander not from pest infestation. Primary scale insects have the evergreen leaves in their sights to feast on the rich sap. As long as the exotic beauty of flowers lingers outside in summer, busy beneficial insects keep the pests in check. In winter quarters, on the other hand, there is a threat of an explosive spread of the parasites. This guide has put together 5 home remedies to combat it. How to free a rose laurel from scale insects in harmony with nature.

Scale insects on the oleander

Typical symptoms

How to recognize scale insect infestation

Of the more than 3,000 species of scale insects, around 100 can be found in Europe. The best-known representatives are cap scale insects (Diaspididae), cup scale insects (Coccidae) and the dreaded mealybugs and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). However, only an entomologist who specializes in scale insectology can identify the differences between the categories. Regardless of the wide range of species, the harmful insects reveal themselves to the oleander gardener through corresponding, unmistakable symptoms:

• Leaves stained yellow and stained
• Stunted growth of foliage, buds and shoots
• Sticky coating as a result of honeydew excretions from the lice
• Brown, black, or yellowish bumps on the leaves and shoots
• White, woolly coating that smears when touched
• Increased leaf fall in the advanced stage

If there is an oleander in the bucket on the balcony or terrace, an increased occurrence of ants indicates a scale insect infestation. Because ants seek the sugary honeydew that the pests excrete. If an ants-populated walkway in the direction of rose laurel forms, inspect the flowering wood for scale insects and other plant lice as soon as possible.

Fight scale insects

Immediate action - change site conditions

Before you dedicate yourself to the use of a powerful household remedy, the general conditions at the location are put to the test. The main causes of scale insect infestation are a lack of light and excessively high temperatures in winter quarters. Since a spatial separation from other plants makes sense anyway, order the affected oleander to relocate. In the bright place with a cool 5 ° C to 10 ° C, the pests get on the collar.

Home remedies

Water and toothbrush

When the first scale insects appear on the shiny green foliage, the oleander is numbered. If the prudent gardener then acts promptly, the simplest of all home remedies will nip the threatening plague in the bud. How to fight scale insects with water:

• Wash off infected leaves with a powerful jet of water
• Protect the root ball from the surge of water beforehand with a plastic bag
• Remove stubborn infestation with a disused toothbrush and lukewarm soapy water
• Wipe off greasy webs with a damp cloth
• Pluck heavily infested oleander leaves

Always edit the Upper and lower sides of the leaves. Because scale insects have mastered the art of camouflage perfectly and like to hide under the leaves or in the leaf axils. If you feel compelled to remove scale-insect-infested leaves, please throw the leftovers in the household waste and not on the compost.

Soapy solution

Penetrating scale insects have nothing to counter the high efficiency of soap solution. The main component of the home remedy is pure curd soap or soft soap. However, conventional soap products are unsuitable for this purpose and do more harm than good in pest control. The recipe and application are very simple:

• Boil 1 liter of water and allow to cool
• then stir in 1 tablespoon of liquid core or soft soap
• Add 1 teaspoon of alcohol
• Pour soap solution into a hand sprayer
• Spray the oleander thoroughly

Since the soap solution can leave unwanted marks on sensitive floors, spread out an old blanket or foil before using the home remedy. Please ensure that the rose laurel is not in direct sunlight at the time of treatment.

tip: Take the scale insects with the two household remedies water and soap solution in the tongs. In the first step, shower the oleander thoroughly upright and upside down. Immediately afterwards, spray the foliage with a soap solution. Then repeat the combination of measures every few days until you have completely freed your oleander from scale insects.

Paraffin oil solution

Instead of core soap or soft soap, you can use paraffin oil as the main ingredient in the pesticide. The effectiveness of this home remedy is based on the fact that a thin film of oil covers the pests and their armor and cuts off the oxygen supply. It is important to note that you keep the oleander in a partially shaded location during treatment and for the following two weeks. How to make a paraffin oil solution knowledgeably:

• Pour 1 liter of lime-free water into a saucepan and warm it up slightly
• Stir in 12 to 15 grams of paraffin oil
• Mix in a few splashes of soapy water or washing-up liquid as an emulsifier
• Fill the paraffin oil solution into a spray bottle
• Spray on the infested oleander in a shady spot

Alternatively, you can use vegetable oil, such as canola or sunflower oil. It is important to add an emulsifier as a mediator between oil and water. Oleander gardeners report a strengthening effect of the home remedy when a few drops of high-percentage alcohol, such as alcohol or lemon balm, are added.

alcohol

High-proof alcohol has the property of penetrating the protective coverings of scale insects and killing the lice hidden underneath along with their brood. The following application options have proven themselves in practice to remove oleander leaves from scale insects:

• Dip cotton swabs in alcohol and dab scale insects one by one
• Pour lemon balm spirit into an old glass atomizer and spray on all the undersides and tops
• Moisten a cloth with alcohol and wipe off scale insect-colonized leaves

As is appropriate and sensible for all home remedies, you cannot avoid repeated use when using alcohol. The thicker the oleander, the shorter the intervals between treatments. Do not stop fighting until you can no longer find any scale insects yourself with a magnifying glass.

Plant stock

With more than 1,000 species, the mealybugs and mealybugs family are particularly well represented within the superfamily of scale insects. Oleander gardeners are confronted with this type of pest accordingly. The fact that mealybugs and mealybugs do not have a robust, hardened shell, like cap and cup scale insects, is advantageous for successful control. This opens up the option of comparatively gentle control with plant stock.

Tried and tested basic ingredients for an effective plant stock against mealybugs and mealybugs are, for example, wormwood leaves, fern leaves, onion peels and garlic cloves. How to make the brew correctly:

• Put 1,000 g fresh fern chew or wormwood leaves in a cauldron
• Alternatively, 500 g fresh garlic cloves and 500 g onion peels
• Pour 1 liter of water on top
• Bring to the boil briefly and simmer gently for 30 minutes
• Let stand for a day and strain
• Dilute the brew with lime-free water in a ratio of 1:10

Then fill the finished, diluted plant stock into a spray bottle. Wet all of the oleander leaves dripping wet on the top and bottom. The treatment should then be repeated every 2 to 3 days until symptoms of a pest infestation can no longer be detected.