Question
I have been fighting scale for a couple of years.  I have tried alcohol on cotton swabs, hand dishwasher soap, etc.  I had 20+ orchids at one time-down to about 10.  The phals are hardest hit.  Should I throw everything away and start over?

Answer
Hello Audrey,

Whoa!  Scale are terrible little insects!  

To get rid of them, check with your local garden center or nursery and ask them for a systemic insecticide that is recommended for orchids.  Follow the directions for use then spray and soak the orchids in it.  In order to get rid of scales, you should treat them at least 3 times spaced 7 to 10 days apart to ensure you have gotten rid of the adults along with any eggs that may hatch.  Also, follow label directions for your personal protection, while most systemic insecticides are fairly safe to use, there is no sense in exposing yourself unnecessarily.  

Unless the orchid plant is so far gone that it is not worth the trouble to save it, I'd say keep them.  It may take a year or more for them to recuperate depending upon how badly they were infested with scale.  

In the future, keep a wary eye open for them coming back.  Scale are pretty persistent once established.  Also, inspect any new orchid plants prior to putting them along side your collection, scale and mealybugs are notorious hitch hikers on newly acquired plants.  

Hope this helps you get rid of the scales!  Good luck!  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.