neem oil for scale ?

[fbashplant]

I moved recently and I had to put my orchid collection at a friend's house. I'm now moving them to my new place where the space is limited so I'm moving just my favorites to a windowsill location. On inspection this morning I discovered the beginning of a scale problem. Just a little speckling on one of the pseudobulbs and a little in a crown and on a couple of leaves. They were only on one plant which I separated from the others. I washed the scale off with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and a small amount of dish soap very diluted. I prefer to treat plants with natural compound rather than commercial pesticides so I was wondering if neem oil on regular routine would be advisable. Any ideas welcome.

[T4tlrman]

Excellent question. Looking forward to the answers -

[fbashplant]

I guess no one has an opinion on the efficacy of neem oil. There is an orchid growing business in my area of South Florida. I'll check with them and see what they have to say and let you know.

[78Terp]

Give folks a chance to read your post. It has only been up for a few hours.

Personally, I have no neem oil experience to relate.

---------- Post Merged at 02:52 PM ----------

You can also do a search on this site and come up with 225 hits for 'neem'.

[coeruleo]

i like neem oil. it is not the cure-all to gardening problems, but it helps, i think. i use it regularly. i spray the plants all over, the medium, the pot, and even the surrounding area sometimes. it does seem to be a deterant for scale and mealies but needs to be used once a month or so, or very well following a new infestation. treat all nearby plants regardless of whether they show bugs yet or not. not being thorough cannot be blamed on the neem oil. i buy the non-diluted kind and dilute it myself, it saves $. i use it in the evening, and during the daytime i keep treated plants out of the direct sun and avoid higher light until dry again. DO NOT USE on epiphyllum and related cacti it burns them no matter what and leaves them scabby looking. ok to use on dragon fruit cacti though.

[fbashplant]

Thanks for your advice. I think I will get some full strength and dilute it myself as you suggest.

[ksriramkumar]

I use neem oil quite regularly on my orchids and other garden plants. if used with liquid soap and warm water, it is excellent as a preventive fungicide, bactericide and effective against mites/scales/aphids.

[fbashplant]

Thanks for your advice. It makes me think this is the answer I'm looking for.

[King Kjeldz]

now scale is of particular concern to me....its a no nonsense topic....especially in drier conditions....neem is natural but a heavy scale infestation not only damages plants quickly but also more often than not the discoloration and internal damages that scale causes...plants die or stagnate and frustrate...i blame the saliva that i believe it acts like the saliva of a mosquito that causes blood to flow easier...it causes plant juices to flow and damages internal tissue...i have never confirmed via research but from experience in the greenhouse i have formed that opinion..i suggest detergent and water and a soft brush to remove the b*tches....and a proper insecticide preferably systemic to all plants in the area on a monthly basis

[Ron-NY]

Fred, scale can get down behind the papery sheaths on orchids. I peel off the sheaths and use alcohol and soap in a spray bottle...I spray plant and then use a soft toothbrush to remove scale. Then treat with horticultural oil in water. I treat with oil 3 times, every 10 days. I resorted to a sytemic for a 12' potted Ficus.