Hello all, I've had my portulacaria afra for over 6 months now and it's been thriving...until about a month ago. There appeared some funny white things with a black spot at the centre. I waited, to ask some local experts their advice but it didn't happen. About 2 weeks ago we decided to spray it with Home and Garden spray, which contains transflutrin and cyflutrin (please forgive me, I'm not a green thumb and I was getting worried), and we left it out back for a couple of days before moving it back into its usual spot where it gets a lot of afternoon sun (we're in Mexico). However the white things haven't gone and worse, there appear to be signs of root rot (brown leaves and brown spots on many leaves). It's shedding like crazy. I'm afraid to put it out front on the grass because the squirrels that live under our house may eat it, as they have a few other plants. Should I repot it? Should I take it out of this soil? I can't tell you what the soil content is -- just that it's what they sold us at the nursery as a general soil for indoor plants. I haven't watered it now for over a week (when I do, it's usually enough to let water out the bottom). What shall I do about the white thingys (does anyone know what they are?) Any help would be very welcome! Thank you.
The "white things with a black spot at the centre" may be armored scale, something like those seen in this photo.
Thanks for sharing that, Junglekeeper -- do you know what I can do to get rid of it? Would using rubbing alcohol to wipe them off be a good idea (I read that elsewhere on this site though not sure if it applies to these beasties).
I had something similar on a jasmine and some palms. They were difficult to eradicate. I actually decided to get rid of the jasmine as they kept coming back; there were just too many leaf and stem surfaces to get complete coverage using insecticidal soap. Your plant does not have this attribute so you may have better luck. However I don't know if the soap would be safe for this plant. Hopefully other readers can provide you with an answer. I've treated a jade plant with 70% rubbing alcohol, and to my surprise, it did not seem to affect it adversely. I don't think a wipe would be effective. Juvenile scale are nearly impossible to see. The ones that you can see, the adults, should be physically removed prior to the spray as the soap is generally ineffective against them. Complete coverage using a spray on all plant surfaces would be the better way to go.
I was doing some searching between your replies, Junglekeeper. And it seems I have to scrape off what I can see and then, yes, soap spray. I think I'll include some neem extract in it as I'm reading that it's been used to treat scales. At least now I know what I'm dealing with. If anyone else can shed further light on this, I'd appreciate it.
