Plant questions

Real questions from home gardeners, the kind people post with a worried photo, answered by GrowPls: what's likely going on, what to do about it, and when to worry.

Showing questions tagged #scale · show all

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  palm (likely an areca or similar)

  What are the white bumps on my palm leaves and how do I treat them?

  The plant is heavily infested with scale insects, which are sucking sap and weakening it. Start by physically wiping/scraping them off and then use repeated treatments with soapy water or horticultural oil until no new bumps appear.

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  elephant ear

  What are the white bugs on my elephant ear leaves and how do I get rid of them?

  Those white specks are almost certainly sap‑sucking pests like mealybugs or soft scale that came home with the new plant. Isolate the plant, wipe every leaf with soapy water or alcohol, and repeat regularly until you don’t see any more.

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