Hi I’m Kim. I’m here because I have an indoor dwarf lemon tree. It is my first experience with indoor fruit. My husband and I have had dozens of fruit trees in the past but have been lucky enough not to have disease.
I’m here because my lemon tree is sick. Upon research on the internet it looks like it might be scale. A few of the leaves have almost a black moldy substance them and their yellow dots all up and down the branches.
I just noticed this a couple of days ago and panicked and sprayed the whole tree with 70% isopropyl alcohol. It seems to have done okay with my wiping down all of the leaves. I did not realize that you need to just scrape all the yellow dots off which apparently are bugs.
Tonight I used to compound spray called Bonide Systemic. I sprayed it all over the whole tree top and bottom of leaves branches. I scraped off all the little yellow dots that I could see.
Please advise if the spray I used will be effective or if I will or will not have to do additional steps. I’ve grown fond of my little tree and would like to correct my mistake.
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Welcome Kim! Yes it sounds like scale.
”Sooty Mold: This black, powdery substance often covers leaves, fruit, and branches. It grows on honeydew, a sticky residue that scales produce while feeding.
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Yellowing Leaves: You might notice leaves turning yellow or developing mottled patterns. This change often indicates that the plant is struggling due to scale damage.
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Sticky Residue: If you see a shiny, sticky film on your plants, that’s honeydew. It’s a clear sign that scale insects are feeding on your citrus.
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Scale Bodies: Look closely at the stems and leaves. You may find small, flattened bumps or nodules. These are the scales themselves, and they can vary in color from brown to white.
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Ant Activity: If you see ants crawling around your plants, they might be farming the scales for honeydew. Ants protect scales from predators, so their presence can indicate an infestation.
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Poor Fruit Development: Watch for misshapen or discolored fruit. Scales can hinder the plant’s ability to produce healthy fruit, leading to premature dropping or blemishes.”
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I would hit them with this Amazon.com: BioAdvanced Fruit & Citrus Tree Insect Control Concentrate - 32 oz Bottle | Pest Control for Gardens - 2 Month Infestation Prevention - Treats Up to 9 Fruit Trees : Patio, Lawn & Garden
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We might try the organic approach next time. That will not just eliminate them it knocks out anything else hanging about.
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Hi Kim,
I apologize for taking the liberty to change the title of your thread. It’s done for two reasons:
- To avoid confusing your thread asking for help for your lemon tree with the real Introduction to the forum thread
- Creating a title relevant to the issue you are having will likely bring those who can help you with the issue to this thread like @clarkinks did.
I’d like to mention that please read the label of the chemical before you spray it on your fruit tree. Follow the label. You said you used a systemic Bonide product. A systemic chemical will be absorbed by the whole plant including into leaves, fruit, etc. If you plan to eat the fruit, best to avoid use of a systemic chemical. The label will say it’s for ornamental only or not use for fruit or veggies.
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Thank you then for changing the name of my thread. I appreciate it.
As far as damaging fruit, it never has even flowered. I’m good there. So would it be okay then?
My daughter said it does say scale on it as far as the bugs that it takes care of I just wasn’t sure about going into the lemon tree. Kind of a moot point since I already did it.
From what I read it says to keep doing it until they’re gone? I just wanted a second opinion. Thank you again!
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Scales are my biggest issue with my Myers lemon tree. The tree was kept indoors during the winter. During the winter, I did not use chemical spray but diligently used a scotch tape to peel scales off the tree (trunk, branches, leaves, etc). I must have too much time in my hand but I like getting rid of scales this way (used up a lot of scotch tape). I did it about once a week.
Once the weather outside got warmer, I moved my tree outside. Scales continued to be an issue for the first few weeks until natural predators like ladybugs found them.
I do not know how long a systemic chemical stays in a tree system. Hopefully, those who know will chime in.
@Traucins
Indoor fruit trees can be problematic because there are no wrens, etc. to clean off nuisance pests. This is especially true of Citrus.
If you are considering using a pesticide, check the label to see if it may be used indoors. If not, you’ll need to spray it outdoors, then wait 4 to 24 hours (depending on the class of pesticide) before bringing it indoors again.
I just read the Q&A of the product you listed, it stated that this product is for outdoor residential use only and not to be used with potted plants (assuming not for indoor potted plants, either).
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