I have an orchid it is a phal - It seemed the have brown scales on the leaves there is also a sticky liquid - I have tried soap and water its not working any idea as to how to get rid of the scales ?
Poke the scale with your fingernail. They could be dead from the soap and water. I generally just rub them off after poking them so they will burst. If they do not burst after poking they are dead.
I have employed the Q-Tip/rubbing alcohol technique. Time-consuming, yes, because you must go scale by scale and be most careful about keeping the alcohol ONLY on the insect, but works fairly well. Repeat periodically. Those (literal) suckers come right off!
