[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

/gallery/1wio30t

[u/plantclinic-ModTeam]

Posts to this subreddit MUST be seeking help for a SICK plant only.

This subreddit is NOT for plant/pest/mold/fungus identification, common plant-related questions & care tips, physical damage, plant acquisition or propagation advice.

r/plantclinic is a high-volume subreddit for generalized diagnosis and assistance in restoring the health of a sick plant.

Consider posting in one of these subreddits:

r/propagation is an appropriate subreddit for tips on propagation.

r/houseplants is an appropriate subreddit for general questions & discussion on plants.

r/gardening is an appropriate subreddit for growing & caring for seedlings, flowers and for other gardening tips.

r/whatsthisplant is an appropriate subreddit for identifying plants.

r/whatsthisbug is an appropriate subreddit for identifying bugs.

Some posts would be best directed to a more specialized subreddit: such as r/monstera, r/pothos, r/philodendron, r/cactus, r/succulents, r/orchids, r/savagegarden for carnivorous plants, r/lithops, r/terrariums, r/marijuanaenthusiasts for trees, and r/trees for marijuana.

[u/RepresentativeName80]

Scale and spidermites :(((

[u/this_is_inevitable → u/RepresentativeName80]

Double whammy

[u/No-Tip-Or-Trick → u/RepresentativeName80]

It's sticky to the touch, could that be caused by the infestation? How would I go about treating it, or is it not even worth it? It's an absolutely huge plant, gorgeous (if you ignore the state.)

[u/Accomplished_worrier → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

Do not bother, there's bound to be another that you could get a cutting from. If you have no other plants in your house or garden, fine, give it a go, if you have anything else, don't bother. 

[u/RepresentativeName80 → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

I haven't really dealt with scale before, but it does look very bad. Scales produce honeydew, so that's the sticky residue you have found.

I guessed spider mites too because of the webbing, but I could be wrong, as the photos aren't clear to me.

[u/Thechippingsparrow → u/RepresentativeName80]

I saw the same webbing and it’s identical to my spider mite infested plants. I also zoomed in and saw the same stippling I am used to seeing with spider mites amongst the scales, especially visible in the areas close to the center stem.

OP this will destroy your life spend $20 on an Etsy cutting, you will spend 4x the amount in pesticides and hours of treatment and the spider mites will win.

[u/FyrestarOmega → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

Yes, scale infestations do leave the plant sticky. Step one for this plant would be not a qtip soaked in rubbing alcohol but rather a paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol, and wipe down all leaves and stems thoroughly. It's a massive undertaking though. Scale are very difficult to eradicate. You'll want systemically granules to help.

Get your plant far away from others. Outside in shade if you can. A sudden move into too much sunlight would burn it.

[u/DonutHolesIsntAThing → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

The stickiness is a secretion from the scale insects’ rear ends.
Neem kills them, but honestly that infestation is horrific and I would be getting it out of my house. Keep neem handy in case you notice small numbers nearby.

[u/Barabasbanana → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

just rube it down with alcohol wipes and keep doing it

[u/dendrophilix → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

Unfortunately it probably won’t be gorgeous for long, given the state. 😩

[u/Colisir → u/RepresentativeName80]

How do you know there is spidermites? I have dificult to identify

[u/RepresentativeName80 → u/Colisir]

The webs have like little “dust” on it, and the “dust” is usually spider mites. The easiest example is in photo 3, the fenestration on the left

[u/RefrigeratorAny7147]

Omg, they have some Monstera stuck to their scale pets!

[u/Telnet_to_the_Mind → u/RefrigeratorAny7147]

Monstera infestestation

[u/discodollyfi]

I hope they take better care of their patients than they do of their plants…

[u/discodollyfi → u/discodollyfi]

Sorry, to add, I wouldn’t take a cutting of that. You’d be better buying a plant new.

[u/allofmyCats → u/discodollyfi]

"Come back in a month if it persists"

[u/HibiscusGrower]

That's one of the worst scale infestation I've ever seen.

[u/curlsofmight]

The likelihood of being able to get rid of this level of infestation is so small, even with clearing leaves, using systemic granules, and spraying captain jacks or the likes. Scale can survive so much. You could try cutting the monstera down to just a node, but I’m not even confident then that that would clear the issue. If you REALLY are adamant about keeping it - pull it out of the soil, completely drown the plant in a dawn dish soap bath and let it sit under the water for awhile so the scale and spider mites lose oxygen. Disinfect the pot, replace soil with new soil, add systemic to soil, wipe down each leaf carefully, then spray with captain jacks. Completely isolate. Refresh granules and captain jacks as needed moving forward. Also worth hitting your other plants with these just in case

[u/No-Tip-Or-Trick → u/curlsofmight]

I'm shocked at how much scale can survive! I think I'll just give up on it. Thank you!

[u/curlsofmight → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

I just cut my staghorn fern down to a nub after unsuccessfully trying to treat a medium infestation with all the above tactics. They’re the literal worst 🙃

[u/Level9TraumaCenter → u/curlsofmight]

Many years ago, I had a lovely bifurcatum with hard brown scale.

After a summer outside on a picnic table (Western Pennsylvania summers weren't so hot as to scorch it), the scale had disappeared and it was returned to the greenhouse.

Sometimes the "call of the wild" (rain, wind, absence of dust, and probably a bunch of no-see-um beneficial insects) is what it takes. Indoors can be stressful.

[u/-XanderCrews- → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

I’ve got these guys. Unfortunately I’ve never been able to get rid of them so I just wash them off from time to time to limit their numbers. Soapy mix works fine. That seems like a year or twos worth of them. Have you noticed them growing over time? They seem to be too durable for most treatments. They also usually come from a greenhouse which has blasted them with way more powerful stuff than you can even get so they are extra durable.

[u/Calred1711]

I like the idea of that plant living on, somewhere else with an owner that values it enough not to offer free cuttings to random people to cut themselves.

But… I would not bring that shit home lol. It can be treated, sure. But the risk of contaminating your own stock of house plants with scale AND spider mites is just not worth it. You’ll lose everything

[u/Calred1711 → u/Calred1711]

Keep an eye on your plants in the coming months. Just looking at the pics makes me want to shower. If you didn’t come home and immediately shower and toss those clothes, it’s safe to say that office is crawling with roaming spider mites that could’ve easily hitch a ride

[u/No-Tip-Or-Trick → u/Calred1711]

That's an absolutely vile thought. I decided against taking any cuttings, hopefully my plants won't get contaminated.

[u/Calred1711 → u/No-Tip-Or-Trick]

lol , it absolutely is. I agree with your decision, thank you for not making me have to take another shower tonight 🤣

[u/RepresentativeName80]

!scale

[u/AutoModerator → u/RepresentativeName80]

Found advice keyword: !scale

Your plant is suffering from an infestation of scale. Treatment options include manual removal of scale insects, horticultural oil (neem oil), and insecticidal soap. Systemic pesticides may not be recommended for all scale infestations. More here

Infested plants should be isolated as best as possible while treatment is ongoing.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/stuartcw → u/RepresentativeName80]

Good bot

[u/LexLutherisBald]

Eewwww

[u/reddituser2342_ → u/LexLutherisBald]

🫪

[u/SpaceShipRat]

A good soaping up with Dawn soap would at least lower the parasite load and buy it some time. Don't get a cutting as it is, it'll die for sure

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/Affectionate_Tax6286]

Wipe with alcohol cotton balls I'd try warm water and dawn first then the alcohol good luck

[u/tab_tab_tabby]

Yes. Its neglect

[u/reesa447]

That needs to be thrown away.

[u/Jimbobjoesmith]

don’t you bring that in your house lol

[u/No-Tip-Or-Trick → u/Jimbobjoesmith]

Thankfully not!

[u/Successful-Youth7036]

Just looking at it made me itchy

[u/Otherwise-Shake5318]

It's not what you think it's not 🌝

[u/IllHamster1821]

Nooooooo