I have a potted Jade Tree that is about 5' tall and the main trunk is 7" in diameter. Lately a lot of the leaves and limbs have developed small brown pod looking things. (I know, a very technical description :-) ) They multiply, get very sticky and kill the limb. I have been doing heavy pruning to combat this problem. Anyone know what this is or how to cure the plant? Thank-you! I've had this Jade for over 15 years and would like to keep it.
Sounds like a possible "scale" infestation, but like Ed mentioned, a close-up photo of the damaged leaves would help narrow it down.
definitely sounds like some kind of bug infestation. from your description scale is the first thing that comes to mind. treat them with qtips dipped in rubbing alcohol. make sure you rub them well as the 'scale' is actually a shell that protects the animal - you've got to irritate the shell well enough for the rubbing alcohol to get underneath of it and hit the bug. repeat as needed. i'd still like to see a pic - it could be something else entirely.
I'll try and get a photo posted...thanx for the lead on the scales. From what I've read, I'm 99% certain it is scales. Do I keep the heavy pruning? I've read that Murphy's Oil Soap and alcohol spray could help? And what is systemic? Thank-you for any answers!
a systemic treatment is something that is taken up into the plant and affects the whole plant. topical treatments only affect the spot they are applied to. i've successfully used rubbing alcohol on q-tips to treat scale and mealy bugs. i've heard that insecticidal (sp?) soaps and/or regular liquid soap will also be successful against scale. the thing to remember with scale is that the bug is actually underneath the hard shell (the scale), so any treatment you apply MUST get underneath that protective shield to be effective. since the plant has an active infestation, it's under stress - pruning it could add to that. i would hold off with any more pruning and just treat the bugs - once you've got them treated with something and they are dead, carefully pop them off the plant and then treat the spots again (to get any eggs that might be there). once you are done treating the bugs, let the plant recuperate for a good month or so. if you still feel some trimming is in order, then go for it.
