Zedo Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) So my viridis is growing nicely, but upon close inspection it is over run with scale (I think it’s scale). Ive tried wiping them off and using rose scale spray and been oil but it’s seems to do nothing. Thoughts? It’s not hurting the plant in an obvious way but I’m sure it would thrive much better with out it. The other two viridis I have had none but now are starting to get it. So I sorta wanna get on top of it ASAP. Edited January 18, 2018 by Zedo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northerner Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) I've killed em with diluted dish washing up liquid, about a teaspoon or two in a squeezy bottle will do it. That was on other plants though. I've been using garlic water to keep the fk'n grasshoppers off my psychotria in the last few weeks and it hasn't had any adverse reaction on the plants. Scale are insects too I guess, so it'd probably do them in too. Using about half a dozen cloves crushed and soaked for a few days in a squeezy bottle worth of water, then strained out with a cloth before chucking it in the bottle. Could spot try either one, see how your plants feel about it. Edited January 16, 2018 by Northerner 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 16, 2018 I used to make a chili garlic spray but the grasshoppers always came back the next day. Maybe I’ll try your simple solution. Probably better than the bought stuff lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Northerner Posted January 17, 2018 I'm very cautious l to use poisons on these particular plants, I even considered using nicotine but decided not to. Things could get messy if the poisons somehow entered the plant and were stored in the cells, or even just not washed off properly. I don't know if this is unwarranted, that's still how I feel. I ended up squishing the the bloody hoppers heads as well. I tried pulling off a single leg and setting them free, but I ended up with 5 legged grasshoppers munching away. They didn't like the spray much, used a real potent purple garlic and sprayed every day for a while. It scared off my yellow spiders too, but they seem to have come back even though the hoppers haven't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 17, 2018 The grasshoppers at mine seems to go for the roses and hibiscus atm so I’m sorta lucky for that. After the fence is finished I’m buying a few chickens. Perhaps they will help clear the populations a bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarenna Posted January 17, 2018 Are you sure that this plant is viridis? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crop Posted January 17, 2018 I'm with Northerner, soapy water should do it. I know some people that scrub the soapy water on with an old tooth brush, I just use my fingers to rub most of the scale off. If its bad you can step it up and make white oil by blending cooking oil into the soapy water (lots of recipes on line), I often throw a splash of Neem in too. Lacewings or ladybugs are both good against scale, and easy to bye these days (Bunnings or ebay). Have a look if you have ants farming the scale. It might not look like it's hurting the plant, but it is and will kill it if left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gimli Posted January 17, 2018 7 hours ago, tarenna said: Are you sure that this plant is viridis? Alba? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 17, 2018 I got viridis, carthagenensis, and a shipibo I believe off a member here. Had a few die and 3 live. Honestly thought it was viridis. I’ll post a few pics of each later. If their not viridis guess I’ll be requesting one soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarenna Posted January 18, 2018 Looks to me very much like carth=alba.. Wavy leaf margins are diagnostic. I can swing you some foliage of various strains of viridis for propagation if needed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 18, 2018 Ok so now it’s a ID thread lol. So please help ID these 3 plants. #1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 18, 2018 #3 - I think this is the same type as number 1. But please offer your opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gimli Posted January 18, 2018 All photos look like P carthagenensis (Alba), but I am new to growing Psychotria in general so could be wrong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted January 18, 2018 (edited) Reading through other posts I defiantly think #1 and #3 are carthagenesis. #2 more likely viridis, although unsure if shipibo or good ole regular flavour. Edited January 18, 2018 by Zedo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kadakuda Posted February 9, 2018 had a picture up somewhere comparing the 2 species. the stipule is an easy way to tell off the bat. carth/alba are short and fat, viridis is long. can google. or post a clear picture here fo the full sized stipules and can tell you my eyes arent great but from the pics yours look carth like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zedo Posted February 9, 2018 The #2 looks different to the others which are defiantly carth. But it could still be a carth. Do you think all 3 are the same? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MeanGreen Posted February 18, 2018 #1 & 3 definitely looks like Alba to me, the long petiole and wavy margins are a couple factors. #2 Could be viridis, not sure. Please take a look at the undersides of the leaves and look for weird vein growth like on this 1st pic: It's not always visible on every leaves but viridis usually does that. Here's a couple alba leaves in comparison: And another type of viridis, var. narrow leaf: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zelly Posted February 18, 2018 one sure way to tell is flowering / seed setting structures Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squidgygoanna Posted February 19, 2018 Scale and mites seem to love psychotrias for some reason. I have to regularly apply neem oil to mine cause the bastards just keep coming back. Haven't noticed them on any of my other plants. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kadakuda Posted February 21, 2018 that thing meangreen mentions can be useful, but ive had a few viridis grow without it regularly. i know they are true as they are the same clone, but grew in different spots for extended times. flowers and fruit like zelly said are easy too, but need to wait. stipules are 100% and easy to ID right away, no need to wait for flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites