Shrimp plant

Deborah
by Deborah
What are these white spots on my shrimp plant? How did it get it? And how do I get rid of it ASAP? Plant appears to be dieing. The spots are white, smushy, and on the branches. HELP!!!
  12 answers
  • Ricki Niehaus Ricki Niehaus on Dec 19, 2014
    it looks like a bug called a scale .. thats all I know not much help
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Dec 19, 2014
    I agree with @Joy Johnson. Dab them with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol.
  • Janet Janet on Dec 20, 2014
    I have those on my succulent plants and they will indeed kill it. They attach to new growth and drain the plant of its vital juices. I tried alcohol and gardening soapy spray. Hard to get rid of so now I'm using a powder, "diatomaceous earth" dusted on the plants. Hopefully this will work.
    • See 2 previous
    • Colimbia1 Colimbia1 on Dec 20, 2014
      @Deborah If this plant is inside and near other ones you should keep an eye on them as well. One suggestion was to blast them with a hose if they are outside. If that worked my holly bushes wouldn't have them. Whatever you use reapply it regularly until you have no recurrences as I have found that they keep coming back. Also if outside and you cut any of the branches off, bag them and throw them away - on the ground means back on the bush/plant.
  • Margaret Demaria-Gatti Margaret Demaria-Gatti on Dec 20, 2014
    I have a fig tree it's in my house,the leaves are fallen off ,after turning yellow,will this come back.
    • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Dec 20, 2014
      @Margaret Demaria-Gatti you can do the same treatment I have described below. To cover in plastic you can use a drycleaner bag or tape some garbage bags together to cover the plant. Good luck. It should come back but new leaves will take time to come back.
  • Leona G Leona G on Dec 20, 2014
    I think you have a cottony scale. The best treatment for scale is a insecticidal oil. Some brand names are Sunshine Oil, Ultra fine oil and you could also use Neem oil. The idea is to smother the little buggers and not kill the plant so cooking oil or baby oil is not a good idea. I usually with this small of a population just squish them but realize not everyone can dot that. Good luck
  • Kat Kat on Dec 20, 2014
    safer brand,com Neem Oil will get rid of and not hurt your plant! let us know what you chose !
  • Linda Linda on Dec 20, 2014
    You have mealy bugs. Follow Joy's and Janet's suggestions.
  • Myrna Engle Myrna Engle on Dec 20, 2014
    Mealy bugs have a VERY soft body. Just reach over and mash them. no pesticide. No problem. If you have them outside, their body is so soft a good blast from a water hose will kill them.
    • Deborah Deborah on Dec 22, 2014
      @Myrna Engle are the bodies so soft that when you wipe one off with your finger it smears on it?
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Dec 20, 2014
    @Deborah I have had mealy bugs on house plants in the past. What worked for me was spraying with a solution of ivory dish soap and water in a spray bottle. I sprayed the plant and covered the plant in a plastic bag for about a week. If you are trying to remove the bugs be sure to wash your hands before handling any other plants or you will spread them.
  • Franklyn Franklyn on Dec 21, 2014
    50% water +hand soap 50% and spray it
  • Pat G Pat G on Dec 30, 2014
    Mealy bugs, definitely. Hard to get rid of. Wipe off like several other suggestions. Try also using a systemic insecticide, as they are sucking on your plant. My sister said she put her plant outside and a bird came and ate off all the bugs. If not too cold outside, you could put it out and hope a bird finds it.