About Will Creed Expertise I have professional knowledge of all indoor plants and can answer questions
regarding light, water, fertilizer, repotting, and humidity and temperature
requirements. I can identify plant pests and provide information on safe,
effective treatment. Answers are based on 26 years of professional, hands-on
experience and scientific research and are clear and easy to understand.
Experience I have over 25 years of professional indoor landscaping experience caring for plants in homes, offices, building lobbies, stores, restaurants, and other adverse environments. I have written extensively on the care of indoor plants. My specialties include Ficus trees, low light plants, repotting, pest control, and re-blooming holiday plants. I am writing a book on indoor plant care.
Be sure to check my ratings and nominations to learn why I am the top-rated indoor plant expert.
Question My tree has many yellow leaves on it. I have had it for many years and it used to bloom all the time and produce many oranges. It gets plenty of sunshine and I water it whenever it is dry. I have never fertilized it because I don't know what type to use. I have also noticed on a few leaves it has a clear sticky substance that has also fallen off on my floor. I just love the tree and hope you can help me bring it back. New leaves coming out are green, not yellow. Thank you for any help you can give me.
Answer Hi Wilma,
The sticky substance is from a scale insect infestation. Scale can be hard to detect. When they are young these sucking insects are slightly oval, slightly raised, translucent bumps about an eighth of an inch long. They can be found along stems and on the undersides of leaves. They don't look like bugs and don't appear to move. As they get older, they develop a hard, dark brown shell and look like a small mole. As the infestation increases, these sucking insects will secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that falls onto leaves, furniture and floors. This stickiness is the most obvious sign of scale and the one that most people notice first.
The key to eliminating scale is to treat even the ones that you cannot see. That means thoroughly drenching all leaf and stem surfaces until they are dripping wet. It is also best if you repeat this treatment all over again in 5 to 7 days to catch any crawlers (the translucent young ones) that you missed the first time. After that, you should check your plant weekly to see if they return.
You may want to try spraying with rubbing alcohol that will help break through the hard outer barrier of the scale and kill it. Mix 1 part alcohol with 5 parts of water. Add a little liquid soap to help it spread.
I do not recommend any pesticides because they are all hazardous to use and not 100% effective against scale. The best non-toxic treatment for scale is called Brand X Foliage Cleaner. It is available through Southwest Plantscape Products in California (www.southwestplantscape.com). Their phone is 1-800-333-7977.It is a silicon-based product so it is very slippery. Its ability to penetrate is probably the key to its effectiveness because it gets into the tiny crevices that other sprays miss.
Important: No sprays should be applied to plants in direct sun or in high temps.
I am wondering if you have ever pruned your orange tree. Pruning helps promote flowers and fruit and will keep your tree more compact.
Citrus tress need an acidic fertilizer, such as Miracid. Use it monthly at half-strength.
Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. If you would like to e-mail me some photos, I may be able to provide some additional insights.
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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC
You can E-mail me directly at: wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com
