Although it does sound like Flyspeck Scale, a pic would confirm it. Bromeliad Scale - those little black dots. This little beauty munches on pesky scale in the garden- including Black flyspeck scale. In this group there are well over 2000 different species. All plants must be clean - free of disease, flyspeck, scale and be emptied of all water. I have used confidor on other plants affected by scale and it works well, it should be good for broms too. I am in the process of setting up my first viv (36x18x36" exo terra) and a lovely friend of mine gave me a few bromeliads that her mum had growing on a tree. “BROMELIADS FOR EVERYONE ” ... broms. Apr 28, 2017 - Explore Gardening Know How's board "Bromeliads", followed by 231230 people on Pinterest. Bromeliads are very adaptable and most will respond very well to less than ideal conditions. One also needs to consider the water requirements of the specific plant and whether it is being grown indoors or outdoors. You will need to contact your local pesticide dealer for what’s available in your area and the one most suited for your plant. FLYSPECK SCALE Or - If You Have Little Black Balls You Have Problems By Maureen (Bugsie) Johns – Bromeliad Society of NSW . They’re great as pot plants as well as for landscaping, and vary in size from inch long midgets to giants over 10m. ! The ‘flyspeck’ scale appears as tiny hard black dots on the leaves and the ‘palm’ as a softer gray or beige dot. Is the pest bad enough for you to not use the plant in the vivarium? 41 Menary Road, Coes Creek, The beauty in most of the genera will be enhanced by providing them with more light than they would receive naturally. Bromeliads grown outdoors have reduced watering requirements as rainwater as moisture in the surrounding air provides the ideal humidity required for most bromeliads. Probably the only pests you will have to worry about with your Broms are various types of scale, the worst of which is “fly speck scale” which can be seen as small black spots over the leaves. They can be found braving the salt spray along seashores, and in the extreme heat and drought of deserts. Previous experience by bromeliad growers have found the active ingredients in the above products effective in controlling the fly speck scale. Scale. Every bromeliad grower soon discovers that their plants can become affected by the tiny black hard crusted scale which is aptly described by its common name. Infestations can get started and become widespread in a short time. Jan 17, 2017 - Explore Marie Wine's board "Garden - Bromeliads", followed by 190 people on Pinterest. The questions have come from new growers and also from those who cannot buy David Gray’s granular insecticide locally. Bromeliads are relatively pest free, but could be subject to scale and a few other insects. You will need to contact your local pesticide dealer for what’s available in your area and the one most suited for your plant. The ‘flyspeck’ scale appears as tiny hard black dots on the leaves and the ‘palm’ as a softer gray or beige dot. The insect is killed but the hard scale does not come off by itself. Be sure to flush out the cup well after treatment and to disinfect your knife with a strong bleach solution to prevent spreading the fungus. PLEASE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ON THE PACKS WHEN USING CHEMICALS SUCH AS THE ABOVE. They are naturally accustomed to good air movement and have commonly been referred to as air plants. Give your bromeliads room and be sure not to crowd them against each other or other plants. These should be removed to improve the appearance of the plant. Questions are being asked again by a number of growers on how to treat this pesky little bug which if left can get out of control and make bromeliads look ugly and make them virtually unsaleable. When I started to speak I am sure all the audience was saying under their breath was, " Oils are oils". With more than 30 species and varieties, bromeliads range in shape, color and growth habit from the epyphetic Spanish moss to the upright, flowering urn plant to the high-colored foliage found in the Neoregelia species. Bromeliads generally do not have problems with pests. Bromeliads are hardy plants and can be grown indoors as well as outdoors. They live in deserts, rain forests and high mountains all the way down to beaches. If you are growing indoors you need to mist the plant twice a week in addition to your watering in order to prevent drying of the leaves due to low humidity. Most often it appears as small brown ovals or dots on the leaves. Signs That a Bromeliad Is Thirsty. MEALYBUGS soft bodied sap suckers, white mealy covering - hard to wet; aggregate low on plant; produce honeydew and sooty mould which protects mealy bug; then tendered by ants which transfer … A tropical plant, a bromeliad is a colorful and exotic addition to your houseplant collection or your backyard … If it is, just follow the advice above and use Rob Smythe's spray as it is effective and doesn'r harm anything else. Frequently Asked Questions; Categories & Dues. Soft brown and hard black (fly speck) scale can be scraped off with a fingernail, worked off with a soft brush and soapy water, or controlled with 50% malathion applied at the rate of one tablespoon per gallon of water. They thrive in the lowlands of the tropical forests and even in some higher regions (up to 4000 m) of Sierra Madre and the Andes. The approximate size of this pit scale is 2-4 mm long. Wash the plant thoroughly after removing adult scale to ensure that any eggs are also … Size 0.8-1.25 mm in diameter. Systemic insecticide are preferable as they can be sprayed just enough to coat each side of the leaf in order to be absorbed into the system, killing all scale attached to the plant. Water requirements for a plant depend a great deal on the type of potting mixture, humidity, light, temperature and air circulation of your growing environment. Bromeliads are part of the same family as pineapples and Spanish Moss. Bromeliads are one of the most diversified plants with respect to the size, shape, texture, colour and markings that can exist among its fifty or so genera and over two thousand recognized species. The ‘flyspeck’ scale appears as tiny hard black dots on the leaves and the ‘palm’ as a softer gray or beige dot. Beware of petroleum based white oil sprays as they can harm broms! The key to managing infestations is to try to prevent them in the first place by good cultivation practices. 2. 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