If you have a jade plant and have been noticing small brown bumps on the leaves, then you may have scale. Scale is a common pest that can be difficult to get rid of. In this blog post, we will identify jade plant scale and discuss three ways to get rid of it!
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What is Scale?
Scale bugs are small, brown bugs that attach themselves to the leaves and stems of plants. They suck the sap from the plant, which can cause the plant to wilt, die, and fall off. Scale bugs can be difficult to get rid of and can quickly infest a whole garden.
That’s why it’s so important to identify scale as quickly as possible to keep it from killing not only your jade plant, but also from infesting other plants.
Identifying Scale on Jade Plant
Scale can be difficult to identify because it looks like small brown bumps (or other colors like white) on the leaves. If you look closely, you will see that the scale is actually a small bug that is attached to the leaf. The best way to confirm that it is scale is to look for the small bugs on other leaves or stems.
If you notice some of the leaves may be yellowing or falling off as another easy way to identify scale. These are more often found on plants that live outside than inside, so if you’ve got an outdoor jade plant it’s even more important to check regularly.
But with saying that, scale can be on jade plants indoors as well!
If you think you may have scale, it’s important to take action quickly. Scale can spread quickly and infest your whole jade plant.
The best way to confirm that it is scale is to look for the small bugs on other leaves or stems, especially if you are seeing yellowing or falling off leaves, which is a common sign of brown scale on jade plant.
How To Get Rid of Scale
There are a few different ways that you can get rid of scale on your jade plant. This can include manually removing the scale bugs from the plant, using isopropyl alcohol, or neem oil to kill scale bugs.
The most important thing to do when you identify scale on your jade plant, if you can, is to move it away from any other plants so scale doesn’t move to other plants.
Manually Remove Scale on Jade Plant
Manually removing scale on your jade plant is good if you have a small breakout. If you have a lot of scale, it can be difficult to remove them all by hand. Use a dull knife or your fingernail to scrape the scale off the plant. Be careful not to damage the plant tissue.
You can also remove scale by using a toothbrush (a soft one!) to brush away the scale bugs.
Use Isopropyl Alcohol To Get Rid of Jade Plant Scale
The second method is to use isopropyl alcohol. This will kill the scale bug without damaging your jade plant. You’ll want to use a cotton swab or Q-tip with isopropyl alcohol and lightly dab it on the scale.
It’s a good idea to dilute down the isopropyl alcohol to 50% with water so it’s not as harsh on the plant. You can do this by adding equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water and mix it up.
Use Neem Oil To Get Rid of Scale on Jade Plant
For a bigger infestation or one that just doesn’t seem to be going away, use neem oil to get rid of scale.
Neem oil is a good choice for getting rid of scale because it is a natural product that won’t harm the plant. Neem oil is also an insecticide and will kill the scale bugs. Mix it with water according to the label and put it in a spray bottle to spray on the plant.
Spray your plant outside (so you don’t get neem oil all over your home), and try to spray before sunrise or after sunset. Neem oil can harm beneficial insects nearby too, so try to spray when they’re less active.
Scale on Jade Plant Overview
Identifying scale on jade plants is important so that you can take action quickly to get rid of them. There are a few different ways that you can get rid of scale, including manually removing them, using isopropyl alcohol, or neem oil. Scale can spread quickly and infest your whole jade plant, so it’s important to take action as soon as you see it!
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends! And if you want to learn more about jade plants, check out our other posts about jade plant care, including overwatered jade plants, jade plant falling over, and why your jade plant isn’t flowering.
