Melinda's Garden Moment Radio Tips

Melinda Myers

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/Radio host, author & columnist with over 30 years of horticulture experience and tons of gardening information to share! www.melindamyers.com

Melinda's Garden Moment videos will help you create that beautiful landscape you’ve always wanted. Each week throughout the growing season, a new gardening video will be added right here, so be sure to stop back. You can also watch Melinda’s Garden Moments on your local network TV station affiliate.

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Bumps on the leaves and stems of your houseplants indicate scale insects have moved in and are feasting on these plants. 

Scale insects suck plant juices, causing leaves to yellow, brown and become distorted. These pests secrete a clear sticky substance called honeydew. Large populations eventually weaken and can even kill some plants.  

You will need to be persistent to control these pests.  Their hard shells are impervious to most pesticides. 

Start by gently scraping the hard-shelled insects off the plant with an old toothbrush or your thumbnail. Check the upper and lower leaf surfaces and all along the stems.

Then spray the plant with insecticidal soap to kill the immature insects that have not yet formed their hard pesticide-resistant shells. Or use a horticulture oil, like Summit Year-Round Spray Oil that kills all stages of this pest.

A bit more information:  Be sure to read and follow label directions when using any chemicals including organic, natural and synthetic products.