Hey there, a lot of leaves of my Senecio have this browni...
1ft to light, direct
7” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 years ago
4
@r4bbiz Hello and welcome to Greg, Dominik.
That is called scale. I had a horrible experience with it the past three weeks. Ugh and I lost about 10 plants due to it.
HOW TO GET RID OF SCALE ON PLANTS
Scale can be difficult to treat because their protective coating renders most insecticides ineffective. Natural or mechanical controls are the most effective way to manage infestations. If scale insects are present, try these methods:
Monitor:
Since no insecticide is effective once the soft or hard shell has formed, monitor your plants for the presence of scale. Watch for the first crawler stage in spring, which is when the insects are most vulnerable; wash and then spray.
Use water:
For minor infestations, use a gentle blast from a hose to dislodge eggs, nymphs, or adults. Dispose in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. Wipe down leaves or stems that exhibit sooty mold.
Prune branches:
Cut out the most heavily infested branches or stems and discard in the garbage or yard debris bin. Don’t compost affected plant material.
Use natural predators:
Insects that prey on scale offer natural pest control. These include parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, lacewings, and ladybugs. Provide habitat to attract and keep these insects around. Beneficial insects can be purchased at local garden centers or by mail order.
Apply horticultural oil:
Organic horticultural oil such as neem oil is effective on eggs, nymphs, and adults, as the oil will coat and suffocate the insects. Provide good coverage for the entire plant. To control overwintering eggs and insects, apply oil in spring before leaves emerge. Several applications may be necessary. Follow instructions carefully, as some plants may be sensitive, and oils are best applied in a particular temperature range.
Use insecticidal soap:
Use a commercial insecticidal soap or a homemade recipe. This remedy is most effective in the crawler stage before scale develop their protective coating. Several applications may be necessary.
Keep it organic:
Though chemical insecticides may control scale infestations, the resulting harm to beneficial insects, wildlife, and the environment is not worth the risk.
That is called scale. I had a horrible experience with it the past three weeks. Ugh and I lost about 10 plants due to it.
HOW TO GET RID OF SCALE ON PLANTS
Scale can be difficult to treat because their protective coating renders most insecticides ineffective. Natural or mechanical controls are the most effective way to manage infestations. If scale insects are present, try these methods:
Monitor:
Since no insecticide is effective once the soft or hard shell has formed, monitor your plants for the presence of scale. Watch for the first crawler stage in spring, which is when the insects are most vulnerable; wash and then spray.
Use water:
For minor infestations, use a gentle blast from a hose to dislodge eggs, nymphs, or adults. Dispose in a bucket of soapy water to kill them. Wipe down leaves or stems that exhibit sooty mold.
Prune branches:
Cut out the most heavily infested branches or stems and discard in the garbage or yard debris bin. Don’t compost affected plant material.
Use natural predators:
Insects that prey on scale offer natural pest control. These include parasitic wasps, soldier beetles, lacewings, and ladybugs. Provide habitat to attract and keep these insects around. Beneficial insects can be purchased at local garden centers or by mail order.
Apply horticultural oil:
Organic horticultural oil such as neem oil is effective on eggs, nymphs, and adults, as the oil will coat and suffocate the insects. Provide good coverage for the entire plant. To control overwintering eggs and insects, apply oil in spring before leaves emerge. Several applications may be necessary. Follow instructions carefully, as some plants may be sensitive, and oils are best applied in a particular temperature range.
Use insecticidal soap:
Use a commercial insecticidal soap or a homemade recipe. This remedy is most effective in the crawler stage before scale develop their protective coating. Several applications may be necessary.
Keep it organic:
Though chemical insecticides may control scale infestations, the resulting harm to beneficial insects, wildlife, and the environment is not worth the risk.
@r4bbiz (edit: woops where are my manners 😉... 👋🏼 Hello Dominik & Welcome to Greg!
I agree with @TexanExpat that is could be sunburn, especially if the leaves that are browning are ones h
That lost the 'powdery coating' (aka Farina) on them, which protects them against Sunburn and getting rain.
To check if it's scale or sunburn spray just ONE of the brown leaves with rubbing alcohol. If it's a bug it'll turn a reddish color which is it dying and then it'll easy scrape off with your fingernail if that's not possible to scrape off then it's sunburn.
But it could also be normal leaf loss!
My Blue Chalksticks, a very similar plant, had the the same black/browning of the lower leaves, I pinched them off carefully making sure that it was a clean complete break from the stem and dusted the node in cinnamon to help it heal.
Then, something incredible happened! 😀...
Where I pinched them off it started to grow multiple new plants from each of the nodes! 🥰
This is their growing season for sure (winter / and Mild Fall/Spring) they're aggressive growers after they have Matured and need more water during the cooler months when they're actively growing... The old leaves make room for new offsets.
To have it during its grow season make sure to give it some succulent fertilizer and it should help a lot.
Mine grew so aggressively that I ended up chopping the top off, which I'm propagating right now and there are so many plants growing out of the base where & from pinched leaves off
I don't think it's scale honestly seeing as I saw very similar leaves on mine during the growth season and it's very healthy. I would warn against treating it with a folar spray of anything until you're 100% sure because losing all the powdery Farina leaves the plant very vulnerable to rot pest and burns.
Best of luck, and let me know if you have any questions I'm happy to help! 🙂
I agree with @TexanExpat that is could be sunburn, especially if the leaves that are browning are ones h
That lost the 'powdery coating' (aka Farina) on them, which protects them against Sunburn and getting rain.
To check if it's scale or sunburn spray just ONE of the brown leaves with rubbing alcohol. If it's a bug it'll turn a reddish color which is it dying and then it'll easy scrape off with your fingernail if that's not possible to scrape off then it's sunburn.
But it could also be normal leaf loss!
My Blue Chalksticks, a very similar plant, had the the same black/browning of the lower leaves, I pinched them off carefully making sure that it was a clean complete break from the stem and dusted the node in cinnamon to help it heal.
Then, something incredible happened! 😀...
Where I pinched them off it started to grow multiple new plants from each of the nodes! 🥰
This is their growing season for sure (winter / and Mild Fall/Spring) they're aggressive growers after they have Matured and need more water during the cooler months when they're actively growing... The old leaves make room for new offsets.
To have it during its grow season make sure to give it some succulent fertilizer and it should help a lot.
Mine grew so aggressively that I ended up chopping the top off, which I'm propagating right now and there are so many plants growing out of the base where & from pinched leaves off
I don't think it's scale honestly seeing as I saw very similar leaves on mine during the growth season and it's very healthy. I would warn against treating it with a folar spray of anything until you're 100% sure because losing all the powdery Farina leaves the plant very vulnerable to rot pest and burns.
Best of luck, and let me know if you have any questions I'm happy to help! 🙂
@r4bbiz P. S. I Also have a small Skyscraper - but it won't go offsets when small until it's gone through one full cycle of growing seasons - but yours is a big, mature plant for sure!
It just needs extra sunlight, fertilizer and a tad more water than other succulents to get it to "pop off" in winter! 🙂
It just needs extra sunlight, fertilizer and a tad more water than other succulents to get it to "pop off" in winter! 🙂
