Expert: nick mccann - 11/13/2008

Question
I have a lemon tree in a pot in my sunroom.  In the summer I put it on the patio.   since bringing it in the sun roon for the winter, I have noticed it has a lot of sticky beads of substance on the leaves and it drops on the floor and on the window next to the tree. What is this sticky substance?

Answer
Jim, you have mites, aphids or scale feeding on your tree, and that substance you see is the secretions from them feeding; you need to take it outside, spray it down with an insectecidal soap or a Horticultural Oil (follow directions on label), let it sit for a day and then with your hose, wash off all the residual insectecide and dead insects. Nick