If you keep getting a "return engagement", then you're not getting the
entire population.

If I have a plant with scale, I dip a soft toothbrush in soapy water (I use
my Rise & Shine, as it's more broad spectrum of a killer, having organic
soaps and oils, and alcohol in it) and gently scrub them off of every
exposed plant surface, letting the soap run down into the leaf axils and any
other crevice the brush cannot reach. I rinse the plant afterwards to wash
off any insect residue or loose eggs, but then also spray the entire
greenhouse with a dilute soap solution to get any crawlers that may have
moved on from the bad plant.

Repeat that spray treatment for 3 or 4 times at 3 or 4-day intervals, and
that usually takes care of it.

If I find I've been negligent and have a more extensive infestation, I apply
a combination of Orthene or Merit and Enstar II, followed by Enstar alone at
weekly intervals for three applications.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Peter A" wrote in message
...
I have a chronic scale insect infestation and think I may be trying to
deal with it the wrong way because they keep coming back. I'll inspect
the plant and remove any visible critters with an alcohol-dipped swab,
the spray the plant well with alcohol. Do I need to do something to the
roots as well? Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance.


--
Peter Aitken