QuestionI have searched everywhere for an answer on what the pests growing on my Mexican Petunia are. All I find is that they are virtually pest and disease free! Well, let me tell you that mine are not. All up and down the stalks are white, hard calcium deposits that are very much alive. Imagine an all white lady bug clamped on the stalk and there's hundreds of them. I've tried 7 dust and it doesn't work. The white things are weighing the plants down and the plants are no longer flowering. Do you know what this could be?
AnswerHi Michelle, those are scale insects and you need to address them with a systemic and a Horticultural Oil; Get "Bayer Rose and Flower" systemic and follow the directions, coupled with a good spraying (on the insects themselves..) with an oil like Organocide, or Ultra-Fine Oil .....this will take care of the problem for you Michelle, and always follow the directions and precautions on the label of your products, because the systemic is a wonderful product, but NOT to be used on edibles , like Citrus, or vegetables...Nick
