Scale on houseplants
Common causes of scale and the first things to check, summarized from 34 PlantGrail care records across 33 plants (as of ).
What causes scale on houseplants?
It depends on the plant and how it is kept, so check the plant pages below. For Boston Fern, the records explain it like this: Scale insects attach themselves to fern fronds and stems, feeding on plant sap. They appear as small, immobile bumps and can cause yellowing and decline if left untreated. Ferns are susceptible because their dense foliage provides hiding spots.
Common first steps
- Pick off individual scales by hand if only a few are visible on stems and leaf axils.
- Scrub affected areas with a stiff brush dipped in strong, soapy water, then rinse the plant with clear lukewarm water.
- Spray with Malathion or a nicotine sulfate solution for heavy infestations on philodendrons.
Plants with records for scale
Most records first. Open a plant for its own causes and fixes.
- boston fern Nephrolepis exaltataPlant care guide
- jade plant Crassula ovataPlant care guide
- orchid Phalaenopsis spp.Plant care guide
- hoya Hoya spp.Read the guide
- snake plant Dracaena trifasciataRead the guide
- aloe vera Aloe veraPlant care guide
- philodendron brasil Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil'Plant care guide
- aglaonema AglaonemaPlant care guide
- philodendron Philodendron spp.Plant care guide
- scindapsus treubii Scindapsus treubiiPlant care guide
- aglaonema spp. Aglaonema Spp.
- schefflera arboricola Schefflera ArboricolaPlant care guide
- staghorn fern Staghorn FernPlant care guide
- oleander OleanderPlant care guide
- agave Agave
- bromeliads BromeliaceaePlant care guide
- ficus benghalensis ficus benghalensis
- bird's nest fern bird's nest fern
- ladder fern ladder fern
- aglaonema silver bay aglaonema silver bay
- hoya finlaysonii p hoya finlaysonii p
- monstera adansonii indonesian marble monstera adansonii indonesian marble
- pothos snow queen white pothos snow queen white
- aglaonema sparkling sarah aglaonema sparkling sarah
- aglaonema modestum aglaonema modestum
- aglaonema maria aglaonema maria
- syngonium confetti syngonium confettiPlant care guide
- vriesea splendens vriesea splendensPlant care guide
- vriesea hieroglyphica vriesea hieroglyphica
- cyrtomium falcatum cyrtomium falcatum
- aglaonema siam aurora aglaonema siam aurora
- indoor lemon Citrus limon
- cast iron plant Aspidistra elatiorPlant care guide
Questions about scale
Which plants have the most records for scale?
boston fern, jade plant, orchid, hoya, snake plant and 28 others.
Can scale be prevented?
Inspect new plants carefully before adding to your collection. Maintain high humidity which discourages scale. Quarantine new plants for 2 weeks. Monitor regularly for early detection.
What are these records?
This page summarizes 34 PlantGrail care records on scale. Records describe care topics; they are not counts of observed plants or treatment outcomes.