Question
I have some kind of a jungle plant that I found on a curb a couple of years ago. It is about 1.5 meters high, has a narrow trunklike stem with rings, and many stringy leaves.
It was doing great until a few months ago when some of the leaves started producing this sticky resin, and I noticed something that  looks like a flat oval on many of the leaves, I assume a parasite. Where did it come from and how can I get rid of it ? (preferably without using nasty chemicals)
Thanks, Tamar

Answer
Tamar, I have used undiluted rubbing alcohol an many plants and it has never harmed a single plant. I am not sure why but it doesn't even harm jade plants and any chemical will kill a jade. It should work for you as well.

Darlene

Tamar,

I am not sure what your plant is from your description but I am sure that it has an insect called scale. The flat ovals are the adult version of scale, they never move. The juvenile version is a very tiny gnat like insect that is not very noticeable and is so tiny it can come through screens. It's eggs can lay dormant in soil for some time. It can be carried long distances by the wind. I have had it seemingly come out of nowhere in the middle of winter with my house totally closed up so to be totally honest I cannot tell you where it came from but it will take persistence to get rid of it.  The best way to get rid of it with a harmless chemical is to put a bottle of 70% rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the fronts and backs of all the leaves thoroughly twice a week for three weeks then once a week for 8 more weeks to get any eggs that hatch out. The alcohol will kill the scale on contact. It will not remove the adults that are suctioned to the plant but it will kill them, if you want them removed you can take a Q-tip dipped in alcohol and flick them off the plant to remove them. Persistence is the key to getting rid of scale. Good luck.

Darlene