Question From: Simi Valley, California, United States
Q: Why do some of my succulent plants develop a disease that looks like scale or something on the stalk and petals? How do I combat it? If I scrape the scales off, will the plant be salvageable?
A: Maybe yes and maybe no. Deborah Lee Baldwin, succulent diva, recommends dumping the plant unless it is valuable to you. If so take the plant out of the pot and hose off all the soil and washing the plant with soapy water while gently scraping off the scales. Repot in fresh soil after washing the pot with hot soapy water. Keep it away from other succulents and keep an eye on it. Scale is tough to get rid of and most folks I know who grow them toss infected plants out. Good Luck, Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy