Question
I live near Guadalajara Mexico and have a container garden with these plants in the sun all day. I have just been told that I have scale on my triangular palm, 3' croton and a couple of other plants. On the palm and some of the other plants there is also a black granular coating on the trunk and back of leaves. The one croton as dropped all its leaves both old and new ones.
Being quite a ways from a garden store, can another oil be used instead of Neeme or dormant when mixing up some of the 'home' remedies? What about baby oil, olive or soy oil? Gardening down here is quite different than it was up north.

Answer
Hi Liz,  You can try this  Finely chop 10-15 garlic cloves and soak in 1 pint of mineral oil for 24 hours.  Strain and spray as is or dilute with water and add a few drops of soap.

Some home remedies may work but the biggest problem would be you  would have to keep re-applying as they would wash off in a rain or sprinklers.  Neem and other products absorb into the leaf for continues protection and can be ordered over the internet and many times less expensive then going to the store.  kathy