Is this scale?

[TwoStems]

I noticed yesterday while looking over my newest zygo (I've had it since last spring) that there was some "stuff" inside the leaf that never fully opened. I immediately thought it could be scale, so I wiped it down with alcohol, but I'm concerned about the bits I can't get into. I read that you can also spray it with alcohol so I plan to do that tomorrow once I get a spray bottle. Can you confirm this is actually scale and not something else? I checked all my other plants and it looks like this is the only one affected. It has been in failing health for some time and I wonder if that's why. Thanks in advance.

[tucker85]

Yes, it is scale. It's pretty easy to remove with a toothbrush or Q-tips and soap and water or alcohol. It may be causing the plant to deteriorate but often a plant is already weak and it's more susceptible to attack by insects.

[TwoStems]

Should I take this out of S/H and clean up the roots/wash the aggregate after swabbing the hard to get spots with alcohol? It always looked like there was some algae growth in the container as well as some mineral build up (i got it from the greenhouse that way) but I didn't want to disturb it because it was in bloom and the roots looked ok.
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[cdayinflorida]

ack! be careful not to spread it around. I can deal with most insects but scale to me is one of the worst. I agree with Jeff "that a plant that is already weak and it's more susceptible to attack by insects." I would try a systemic on it.
I had an old L. tenebrosa that I could never eradicate the scale from. I would think it was making a turn-around only to find the infestation had returned. I finally gave up. The plant was weak and I was tired of dealing with it. I would have to think something went wrong with the plant and that is why the multi-attacks of scale. I finally gave it a long look and tossed it in the trash. It had been with me for a long time.

[TwoStems]

Yeah, I considered tossing it before I even treated it. I'd hate to lose another one though. I recently lost a couple due to rot and one I had been nursing back to health that ended up getting mold

[phraggy]

I find scale pretty easy to get rid of with Bayers Provado, just spray the plant all over and repeat after three weeks.The only plant I get it on is a100yr old Angraecum Magdalenae.

Ed.

[TwoStems]

Is that something I can get in the states?

[phraggy]

You should be able to get it over there. If it's anything that advertises that their product will control scale. You might have to treat a few times because the eggs of the specie cannot be eradicated with the products. Hence you have to eradicate them on hatching.
Ed

[TwoStems]

Ok, thanks!!

[Ania]

I find scale pretty easy to get rid of with Bayers Provado, just spray the plant all over and repeat after three weeks.The only plant I get it on is a100yr old Angraecum Magdalenae.

Ed.

A 100 years old?!!!