Lemon scale: how to get rid of the pest forever

Preventive measures

To prevent lemon damage from pests, you should follow simple preventive measures:

• Trim damaged branches and weak shoots in a timely manner. attracting pests;
• send recently purchased plants to quarantine;
• keep the soil in the pot clean;
• regularly ventilate the room, ensure sufficient humidity levels;
• Every week, wipe the leaves of the plant on both sides with a damp cloth, this will get rid of dust and pests.

The fight against scale insects must be comprehensive; this is the only way to completely get rid of insects on your homemade lemon. Compliance with preventive rules will prevent the plant from becoming infected with dangerous pests.

I will share with you my experience of fighting scale insects on lemon. Maybe my advice will be useful to someone.

I usually take lemons out into the garden in the spring, where they live there until frost. It blooms there, sets fruit, and then at home they ripen. This was the case last year as well. I brought it into the house in the fall, everything is as it should be. And then they brought me a cherry laurel tree as a gift. Out of absent-mindedness, I did not examine her and did not quarantine her. This is how the scale insect settled in my home.

At first I thought it was aphids - there were so many of them in the fall. The leaves are sticky, there are a lot of corpses on the glass. Well, I think they’ll all take a break; in extreme cases, I’ll wash them off with a stream of water. But when characteristic signs of scale insects appeared on the leaves, I realized: I urgently needed to fight. I washed off the pests with a soapy solution, wiped them with alcohol, crushed them by hand, scraped them off the leaves, even packed them in a plastic bag and sprinkled Dichlorvos there.

It seemed that all this was only beneficial for the scale insect. My hands had already given up. Almost everyone advised: if a plant is heavily infected with scale insects, throw it out into the cold and don’t regret it.

And I have had so many of them – to say “a lot” is an understatement. But it was a pity to throw away the plant. And there was something to regret! More than 20 years ago, we ordered 10 lemons from Kaliningrad. I was so impressed when the parcel arrived! This is a low-growing variety of lemon (no more than 80 cm), it blooms several times a year. I don't really care about the yield, the aroma of a blooming lemon is much more important, but the fruits also play a role. I cut cuttings and usually give them for birthdays or just because. My little lemon and I have already become close. And suddenly such a misfortune.

What scared me most was the danger of infecting the rest of the plants when I took all the indoor plants out into the garden.

And I decided: come what may. I placed the pot of lemon on the oilcloth (so that the scale insect would remain on the oilcloth, and then eliminate the pest along with it).

First of all, I took a toothbrush and cleaned each leaf along the veins on the lower and outer sides: the stem, twigs, and most importantly, the base of the leaves, where there is most of it. I’ll say right away: a soft sponge will not work.

Then I sprayed the whole lemon with a spray bottle, not forgetting the bottom of the leaf, with the following composition: a clove of garlic, finely grated, in a glass of water + shampoo (or shower gel, so that it was soapy). You have to wait half an hour, or better yet an hour, and you will see the metamorphosis. There will be so many more of these scale insects to come to light! Pick up your toothbrush again. Then take a shower with a good spray of water. Washed. The water has drained - checked again.

Now the most important thing. The stem should be coated or sprayed with a garlic-soap mixture; spread in rings along the edge of the pot and the same rings along the stem. Although garlic does not attack the scale insect, its smell still repels the villain. It's even better to make glue rings from any sticky compound. After all, young wandering scale insects will try to return to their feeding place.

I want to warn you right away: the window sill needs to be washed with warm soapy water, the glass too, all pots and trays with boiling water from the outside, all plants nearby should also be inspected and treated. Even if there are no scale insects on them, be sure to coat the edges of each pot with a garlic-soap solution.

After a week, a control treatment should be carried out. At the first sign of a pest, try to actively fight it, without starting it or putting it off until later. A careless attitude towards scale insects can lead to the loss of your green pet.

Vera Alekseeva

Appearance, vital functions of scale insects

Small insects are found everywhere; they fight scale insects on garden crops, conifers, and indoor plants. Bugs about 1 mm in size inhabit the lower part of the leaves, twigs, and trunk of the plant. The colors come in different colors - white, brown, red, black, with spots. The body is covered with a durable shield, which is why the insect got its name.

• Females are motionless. They attach to leaves and suck out juices. They look like warts and plaques on the lemon. When heavily infested, they move to the trunk, giving it the appearance of scales.
• Males are active and can even fly. But they live for a maximum of 2 weeks. They die soon after the females are fertilized.

Scale insect eggs are laid on the back side of the leaves, or carried with them under the shield. Because of this feature, contact insecticides have practically no effect on scale insects. One female is capable of laying from 250 to 500 eggs. After hatching, the mobile larvae feed on the pulp and juice of the leaves, scatter scattered, completely infecting the entire plant, and move to neighboring ones.

Important!

You can determine the presence of scale insects by the appearance of the lemon. The plant weakens, stops growing, young shoots dry out, inflorescences and buds fall off, fruits develop poorly, productivity decreases, leaves fall off.

A photo of scale insects on a lemon is shown below.

Scale insect on lemon

Lemon

The most popular among citrus fruits, as evidenced by the wide variety of varieties. This is a small tree, usually not growing above one and a half meters in height. Many varieties of lemon are quite easy to care for, so they are suitable even for beginners. And with proper care, the tree will bloom (perhaps even more than once a year) and bear fruit.

Lemons are heat-loving plants, so they need to be grown at a temperature not lower than +20-+22 degrees

Also, these plants love a lot of diffused light and moist air, so it is important to provide them with these conditions.

The most popular varieties are Pavlovsky, Meyer, Panderosa, Georgian.

Prevention

We figured out how to get rid of scale insects. Now let’s take a closer look at what needs to be done to ensure that such a problem does not arise at all:

1. Send all purchased plants to quarantine; do not immediately place them in the flower garden. From the store, you may well bring these pests to your home.
2. Also, you should not place live bouquets next to the flower garden; insects can also hide in them.
3. Carry out pruning on time - get rid of dry and old branches, which may seem very attractive to pests.
4. When cutting leaves or shoots, do not forget to treat the cut areas with garden varnish for disinfection.
5. Make sure that the soil in the pot is clean - there should be no fallen leaves around the lemon.
6. Control the humidity level and ventilate the room.
7. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth - this will prevent dust from accumulating on them and bugs, such as scale insects, will not appear.
8. Follow all the necessary rules for caring for plants, and scale insects will not bother you.

Infections and their treatment of citrus fruits

Lemon diseases, depending on the pathogen, are divided into viral and fungal. But in any case, if you do not respond to their appearance and do not carry out effective treatment, the “patient” will die.

Common viral diseases of lemon photo and description:

• Leaf mosaic. Manifested by the presence of dark or light streaks on the leaf plate. When a virus attacks, the plant stops growing and developing and loses its shape. Unfortunately, it is not possible to cure the plant. Proper care will help reduce its aggressiveness. But if there are other plants in the house, especially citrus fruits, the diseased lemon should be destroyed immediately.
• Citrus cancer manifests itself as brown spots on the leaf blade, deformity of the fruit, and leaf drop. The virus cannot be treated. Prevention – spring treatment with a fungicidal preparation based on liquid copper.

Viral infections appear in apartments very rarely. They occur when the plant is not properly cared for, when its immunity decreases.

Fungal diseases of indoor lemon:

• Gomosis appears at the beginning of infection as elongated brownish spots on the branches and trunk. Subsequently, development occurs when the bark dies and cracks. The “wounds” ooze a sticky substance that dries quickly. The causes of damage are increased air humidity, mechanical damage to the bark, lack of phosphorus and potassium in the soil, excess nitrogen, deepening of the root collar. Treatment: cut off the affected branches, cover the “wounds” with a garden disinfectant.
• Anthracnose is manifested by severe leaf fall. First, the leaf blade and buds turn yellow, then they fall off en masse. Over time, shoots are also affected. If drastic measures are not taken to combat the fungus, the plant will die. Treatment: spraying with a systemic fungicide, for example Fitosporin. You can also carry out 3-fold treatment with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
• Scab is manifested by the formation of yellow spots on young leaves. Over time, they transform into pinkish growths. The fungus spreads rapidly, first affecting the shoots and then the entire tree. If there are fruits on a diseased plant, they are first covered with orange spots, and then acquire a red-brown color and fall off. Treatment: mechanical removal of all affected areas and treatment with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
• Melseko is manifested by the falling of leaves and the death of shoots. The cause of infection is insufficient lighting. Treatment: moving the tree to a brighter place, applying fertilizer. A strong lemon will survive, a weak one will die, since fungicides are ineffective against this disease.
• Chlorosis of lemon leaves is manifested by yellowing of the leaves. This indicates that the soil is depleted and the plant lacks nutrients. Treatment is to transplant the tree into new soil and provide it with care that meets the plant’s requirements.

Citron

This citrus plant is grown mainly for decorative purposes, as there are varieties with very unusual, rather large fruits. They look beautiful against the background of the dark green crown of the tree. The most famous variety of home citron is “Buddha’s Hand”.

' href=»https://pavlovolimon.ru/spravochnik/domashnie-citrusovye/»>Homemade citrus fruits are no exception. As this insect feeds on the juice of the stems, leaves and fruits of the lemon tree, damage appears on them with characteristic spots (yellowish or red-brown). Over time Leaf

A leaf is a plant organ that performs the functions of photosynthesis, respiration, evaporation and fluid conduction.

' href=»https://pavlovolimon.ru/spravochnik/list/»>the leaf turns completely yellow or brown, and subsequently dries out and falls off. The tree stops growing and the leaves fall off. If measures are not taken in time, the entire tree may wither and die. The fruits of the plant may also suffer: the ovaries fall off prematurely, the flowers dry out.

If measures are not taken promptly, the scale insect will cause great damage to the plant.

During their life, scale insects produce honeydew, a sweetish liquid. By covering the leaves, it disrupts the processes of photosynthesis and respiration of homemade lemon. This liquid is also a favorable environment for the growth of sooty fungus.

methods of infection

Scale insects can get into an apartment along with infected flowers from the store or planting material (soil). Larvae can be carried in by the wind through open windows.

It is also important to keep in mind that these insects primarily attack weak or diseased plants. Therefore, it is worth keeping such trees separately from healthy ones.

Signs of lemon scale infection

By what signs can you understand that your Indoor LemonIndoor lemon is the name given to varietal types of lemons that can grow, develop and bear fruit at home.

' href=»https://pavlovolimon.ru/spravochnik/komnatnyj-limon/»>Is your indoor lemon infected with scale insects?

At the larval stage, these insects are difficult to detect, since they are small and move quite quickly. Adult insects are easy to see with the naked eye. They look like brown or light brown round scales on leaf blades or trunks.

Signs on a lemon leaf affected by scale insects

Yellowish or red-brown spots appear on the leaves of the plant - traces of parasite feeding.

If there are too many scale insects on a citrus fruit, they accumulate along the veins of the leaves, so they seem to be covered with a coating.

Another sign of a homemade lemon being infected with scale insects is sticky, sweetish liquid spots on the leaves. Sometimes there can be so much of it that it begins to flow down from the leaves.

Signs of scale insects

Unfortunately, the parasite can only be detected when it has transformed from a larva into an adult. The larvae are too small and invisible. Adult beetles look like brown plates, which can be found in abundance on the leaves or trunk of the plant.

In addition, the leaves are covered with a sticky substance (honeydew), which is easily felt when touched. The leaves and the fruits themselves are covered with small brown spots.

It is by these signs that scale insects on lemon can be detected.

Fighting scale insects on lemon

This disease leads to the death of the plant. Cannot be treated.

To prevent citrus cancer, the tree is treated with liquid copper fungicide in the spring.

Leaf mosaic is recognized by light, sometimes dark green stripes or strokes on the leaves. Leads to deformation of the leaf plate, as well as to a slowdown in tree growth. Cannot be treated. With good care and regular feeding it becomes less pronounced.

Tristeza - leads to drying out and falling of leaves. With severe damage, branches, bark and entire trees die. Cannot be treated.

Lemon disease - sticky leaves

Quite often, citrus owners are faced with deformation, drying and falling of its leaves.

Lemon leaf diseases occur for various reasons. This could be a lack of nutrients, poor care, pest damage, or tree disease.

The cause of leaf fall is often a lack of light, dry air or too high an air temperature. Watering with cold and chlorinated water, excess moisture in the soil, and disturbance of the acid-base balance of the soil have a negative effect on the leaves and the plant as a whole. In addition, lemon leaves react sharply to any changes, be it moving it to a new place or changing the temperature.

In some cases, citrus leaves become sticky. Sticky lemon leaves look like they've been sprayed with syrup. This disease is usually caused by a scale insect that has settled on a tree. If measures to combat this pest are not taken in a timely manner, sooty fungus may develop in the sticky liquid. To remove sticky deposits, wipe the leaves with a solution of transformer oil (6 ml per 1 liter of water). After 5-7 days, re-treatment is carried out. The solution not only effectively removes sticky plaque, but also destroys young scale insects that have not yet become covered with a protective shell. If treatment is not carried out, the plant will die.

You can use another method of treating the tree. In the warm season, citrus is sprayed with karbofos or tobacco solution. To completely eliminate the disease, 2-3 such treatments are required with an interval of 7-10 days.

How to get rid of scale insects on lemon - affordable and effective methods

Growing a lemon tree in an open area is possible only in the southern regions. Citrus lovers in the middle zone usually cultivate them at home or in greenhouses. After 5 years of painstaking work, the tree pleases with fragrant yellow fruits. Lemon care includes not only maintaining temperature conditions, fertilizing and watering, but also pest control. If the plant has become weaker and brown spots appear on the leaves and branches, this is a scale insect. A small parasite sucks the life force out of the tree. How to get rid of scale insects on lemon? It can be removed using chemicals or safer folk remedies.

Preventive measures and treatment

Often the cause of the disease is the lack of proper care. To prevent any disease, you should familiarize yourself with the contents of indoor lemon in advance. And remember: it is easier to prevent any illness than to eliminate it later.

Fitosporin-M is considered an excellent microbiological preparation belonging to the new generation of products. The product is used for preventive purposes and is also highly effective in combating pathogens of various bacterial and fungal infections. It is not addictive, has no unpleasant odor, non-toxic, and can be used at home. Used for spraying and watering (the drug must be diluted according to the instructions).

The main preventive measures for caring for indoor lemon include:

1. daily inspection;
2. organization of competent care and maintenance of the citrus tree;
3. a new plant or tree that has recently been ill should be isolated from other indoor flowers for a while;
4. “bathe” the lemon weekly (the soil is first covered with plastic film, after which the tree is watered generously from the shower);
5. treat the crown with soap foam monthly.

How to tell if a lemon is affected

The appearance of parasites adapts to the color of plants, so the appearance of a pest may not be noticed immediately.

See also

Description of Pavlovsk lemon, planting and care at home Read

The main indicators of infection are:

• small growths on leaves or stems;
• arrangement of small viscous spots on the leaves;
• lemon leaves acquire a yellowish tint at the tips; at the next stage of parasite development they become yellow-brown.

Ways to fight

It is difficult to save a lemon from the scale insect, because this insect has a strong shell structure. This provides the insect with protection from chemicals and other substances. It is necessary to persistently treat the plant and destroy the scale insects.

Mechanical method

An adult cannot be removed using chemicals, so a mechanical method is used to destroy the pest. For this purpose you should prepare:

• a product containing alcohol;
• cotton swab or toothbrush.

A cotton swab is moistened in an alcohol-containing substance and wiped all areas of the lemon where a cluster of insects is visible. If the pest is difficult to remove, you can use a toothbrush

Next, it is very important to carefully examine the stems, leaves, including the back side, and the places where the ovaries form. A housewife who has processed lemon in this way will confirm that it is really effective.

Use of chemicals

It is almost impossible to combat lemon scale insects without the use of chemicals.

It is important to remember that chemicals destroy the pest only in the larval stage. For good results, the lemon tree should be treated twice with an interval of ten days.

Effective drugs are:

“Actellik” is a product that helps destroy the scale insect’s body and destroy it. Every lover of indoor plants who carefully monitors their condition will confirm that thanks to this drug she got rid of scale insects

People with allergies should use this drug with caution, because

Actellik has a specific odor that can provoke an allergic reaction or headache. Therefore, processing should be carried out not indoors, but outdoors. "Aktara" is a drug that will ensure guaranteed destruction of scale insects in less than a day. To do this, the substance must be poured under the root of the lemon tree, then through the plant sap the chemical enters the body of pests and kills them. If you spray lemons, the effect of the drug lasts for a month. This substance is not a very dangerous drug; it can be used on many indoor plants. "Fitoverm" is a preparation of a biological group of insecticides that affects the functioning of the intestinal system of the scale insect. The substance does not affect the condition of the soil and decomposes in a short time, which allows you to consume lemon fruits within two to three days after treating the plant.

After treatment against parasitic insects, it is recommended to feed the plant with Epin, which has a biostimulating effect on citrus plants, helps them cope with a stressful situation after the action of chemicals and restores the functioning of the lemon tree’s immune system.

Use of folk remedies

Sometimes chemicals are not always suitable in the fight against scale insects. The use of a complex solution of kerosene and laundry soap received a large number of positive reviews. For the solution you will need:

• 1 liter of water;
• 50 g of laundry soap, which is ground on a grater for better dissolution in water;
• 50 ml kerosene.

All of the above ingredients are combined and mixed until the soap is completely dissolved. The prepared solution is applied to the lemon tree and left for 2–3 hours. A film of this substance covers the lemon and does not allow air to pass through to the pest. Then the solution is washed off with water.

You can also use tinctures of these plants to destroy scale insects:

• garlic;
• pepper;
• onion.

To prepare the tincture, you need to chop 50 g of one of the above-mentioned vegetables and add 500 g of water, leave for 14–15 hours for the tincture.

Fighting methods

How to fight scale insects? Methods of combating scale insects on lemon can be divided into mechanical, chemical and folk. Of course, chemical ones are the most effective. However, if you are not afraid of harming the lemon or surrounding chemicals, you can use alternative methods.

Mechanical

Perhaps the most time-consuming method. To do this you will need alcohol and a cotton swab. You can also use a toothbrush. You need to moisten a cotton swab with alcohol and try to remove all the insects that have stuck to your lemons. They can be quite difficult to remove, so to make the task easier, use a toothbrush.

The complexity of the method lies in the fact that there are quite a lot of insects, and they can be found in hard-to-reach places.

They can be found not only on the stem or leaves, but also in the ovaries. If during the operation the thought “I am struggling, but it is useless” comes to you, drive it away. After all, the beetle’s shell reliably protects it from chemicals, so getting rid of adult individuals is only possible manually.

Chemical

How to get rid of scale insects on lemon using chemicals? Unfortunately, they will only be effective against larvae or very small individuals that have not yet acquired a strong shell. The following remedies will help in the fight against the parasite:

1. "Aktellik". A very effective drug that will quickly deal with bugs. However, there is a downside - the drug is extremely toxic. Headaches or dizziness may occur during surgery indoors. Therefore, the treatment must be carried out outdoors and take care of a protective suit.
2. "Aktara". The plant is treated with this drug, and the promised result occurs within a day. You can also pour it in small quantities at the root of a tree - this will destroy pests in the soil. The drug is much less toxic than the previous one, so its use is absolutely safe.
3. "Fitoverm". The safest way of all. This biological product does not pollute the soil at all and does not harm lemons, and its effect on insects is very effective.

Folk

If you don’t want to use chemicals, you can remove insects using folk remedies. Armed with this knowledge, any owner (or possessor) of a flower could easily get rid of scale insects.

1. Chop the onion and add a liter of water. Leave for 12 hours, strain. Process the leaves.
2. Add two tablespoons of tobacco to half a liter of water. Treat the plant.
3. Chop five small cloves of garlic into a glass of water. Leave for 10 hours, then treat the foliage with the resulting infusion.
4. Boil 50 g of chopped chili pepper in 0.5 liters of water. Leave for two hours, and then treat the leaves.

Danger and methods of infection

Scale insects are small (up to half a centimeter) insects that prefer to parasitize plants. They got their name from the dense brown shield that covers their body. There are many types of these parasites, but they are found mainly on the leaves of the tree and on the trunk.

These parasites pose a significant danger to lemons because they feed on the sap of the tree. Because of this, the leaves of the plant very quickly turn yellow, shrink and fall off, and the tree itself significantly slows down its growth. If you do not take any measures to combat scale insects, your plant may die altogether.

In addition to these troubles, you may encounter another one: in the course of their life, insects secrete a sweetish liquid that covers the leaves of the lemon. It also contributes to the appearance of sooty fungus.

The methods of infection by this parasite are as follows:

1. You can bring the bug from the store when you buy flowers there.
2. The larvae can enter the plant through an open window.

In addition, weakened lemons are the first to suffer, so make sure that your trees grow healthy and strong - then they will not be afraid of the scale insect.

Ways of lemon infection

External symptoms of a plant being affected by scale insects are slower growth of shoots, leaves become smaller, turn yellow, and fall off. Upon careful examination of the lemon, smooth brown-greenish growths (up to 4 mm) are visible on the trunk, on the inside of the leaf.

Lemon scale is a dangerous sucking pest that feeds on plant sap. She lays eggs under the shell. Over the course of several months, one mealybug produces two generations of larvae (up to 100 individuals), which spread throughout the lemon and move to other indoor plants.

The secretions of the scale insect are a sweet, sticky honeydew that covers the surface of leaves, shoots, and the top layer of soil. The sticky substance closes the stomata of the leaf plate, preventing the plant from breathing.

Scale insects can enter the room:

• with diseased flowers bought in a store;
• with contaminated soil;
• with the flow of wind through an open window.

The scale insect first settles on sick and weak indoor plants. Therefore, diseased bushes should be kept away from healthy ones.

Preventative measures for lemon disease and pest damage

The main measure to prevent lemon diseases is to create familiar conditions for growth and vital activity. Before you start planting indoor lemon, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for growing it and be prepared to follow them carefully. This capricious plant does not forgive even seemingly insignificant deviations from the rules and reacts to them with deterioration in health. So, let's list the basic important rules:

• Maintaining optimal heat and humidity conditions. The plant feels better in the temperature range of +15-22 °C, but if you give it a rest in the winter, the temperature should be reduced to +10-12 °C. Lemon also does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. The plant reacts negatively to dry air - its humidity must be maintained at 75-85%. To monitor this parameter, it is better to get a hygrometer. Based on these conditions, you need to follow a number of rules: Do not place the plant near heating appliances.
• Moving lemon from room to room, from room to street and vice versa should occur at times when the temperatures are approximately the same. The increase/decrease in temperature should be as smooth as possible.
• To increase the humidity level, use humidifiers or place wide containers of water in the room.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are also used in the fight against scale insects . You can treat lemon with various infusions:

Finely chop a whole small onion and pour in about a liter of water. Leave to infuse in a sealed container for about half a day. After this, it needs to be filtered. Wipe the leaves with the resulting infusion.

Stir 2 tablespoons of tobacco (or shag) into 0.5 water. Treat these leaves with infusion.

Grind five cloves of garlic to a paste, add water (1 cup). Let sit for approximately 10 hours. The leaves must be treated with the resulting infusion. Grind 50 g of fresh chili pepper and boil in 0.5 liters of water. Let it brew for 2 hours, then strain and process the leaves.

You can also try a mixture of soap and machine oil. Pour 5-10 g of soap into a glass of water, beat until foam appears, pour in 20-30 g of machine oil. Cover the ground under the tree with cling film. Spray the lemon thoroughly with this solution and then leave for 6-12 hours. After the time has passed, rinse the citrus with lukewarm water. Treatment with this mixture must be done 2-3 times every 7-10 days.

Traditional methods of control involve the use of strong-smelling substances and plants that are not pleasant to scale insects.

But it is important to remember that these treatment methods are only effective for larvae. That is why the tree needs to be treated at least 2 times, with repetitions every 7-10 days, to prevent the return of pests.

But folk remedies are not particularly effective. Much better results can be achieved by using chemicals.

Causes of diseases and their treatment at home

Sometimes citrus fruits become infected with fungal and viral infections. At home this happens for the following reasons:

• pests:
• fluid stagnation;
• high or low humidity;
• cold air;
• contaminated soil and planting material;
• non-compliance with watering rules;
• proximity to infected plants;
• lack of nutrients.

Gommoz

Hommosis is a fungal disease. It is also called gum bleeding. Symptoms of the disease look like this:

• longitudinal brown spots appear on the trunk and branches;
• the bark in the affected areas dies and cracks;
• a golden liquid called gum begins to flow from the cracks.

The development of fungus is provoked by a number of factors:

• deepening the root collar during planting;
• moisture stagnation;
• excess nitrogenous fertilizers.

To save the plant, the affected areas are cut out and covered with a thick layer of garden varnish. The tree is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.

Mosaic

Mosaic is a viral disease. Spread by insects and wind. The leaves of affected plants are covered with light spots, which are located mainly along the plate.

The disease cannot be cured. The affected tree will have to be destroyed.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is another disease caused by flexi. It is activated by increased soil or air humidity and low temperature. The development of infection is promoted by deficiency of phosphorus and calcium.

Round brown spots with clearly defined, slightly convex edges form on the leaves of a diseased plant. Then the spots spread to the leaves and fruits.

Before treating the disease, the diseased parts of the plant are cut off. The tree is sprayed with a fungicide, for example, Topaz.

Scab

Scab is caused by a fungal infection. It leads to the falling of leaves, shoots and lemon fruits.

As the disease develops, small pinkish or brown warts appear on the underside of the leaf blade. At their top there is a depressed area in which the bend is located. From the leaves, the infection spreads to fruits and shoots. All affected parts fall off.

To save the lemon tree, all infected parts are cut off. Places where shoots are cut are lubricated with garden varnish. The plant is sprayed with a solution of 1 tsp. copper sulfate and 3 liters of water.

Sooty fungus

Sooty fungus in late stages of development covers all parts of the plant. This leads to disruption of photosynthesis, arrest of development and death of the lemon.

The causes of the disease are as follows:

• waste products of pests on leaves and shoots;
• increased humidity in the room;
• temperature violation.

When infected, small areas of black plaque appear on the leaves. Gradually they increase in size and cover the entire plate. The infection spreads to fruits and shoots.

To cure the disease, wipe the affected areas with a damp cloth. After this, they are treated with a biological preparation, for example, Fitosporin. They spray the above-ground part of the plant and water the soil in the pot.

Root rot

Root rot is a fungal infection that attacks the roots. It is difficult to notice at the beginning of infection. The first signs appear when the above-ground part of the plant withers.

Root rot occurs due to deep planting, improper replanting, watering with cold water and waterlogging of the soil.

To treat it, a number of measures are taken:

1. The plant is dug up and washed from the ground. The roots are inspected for damage, and damaged areas are cut off.
2. The roots are soaked for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate, then the cut areas are covered with garden varnish. The lemon is soaked in a root formation stimulator for several hours.
3. The plant is transplanted into disinfected soil.

Cancer

Citrus canker is a viral disease. It is spread by pests and wind. Plants with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to it.

Symptoms of citrus cancer:

• small red round spots with a yellow border appear on the leaves;
• soon the formations turn into shoots and fruits;
• spots blur and increase in size;
• the plant dries out.

The disease cannot be treated. The infected lemon dies. To prevent it from infecting other plants, it is eliminated at the initial stage of disease development.

Other lemon pests at home

The citrus nematode is a small, transparent or white worm. It gnaws through the roots, settles in them and sucks out the plant juice. At the same time, the lemon leaves begin to fall off rapidly. If you dig up the roots, you can find small swellings or growths on them, and the pest lives in them.

Chemicals are used to control nematodes. When it appears, it is useful to use organic fertilizers that will help restore the soil and create conditions for the life of natural enemies of nematodes: ants, springtails, mites and other insects.

One way to eliminate nematodes is to heat treat the roots. The affected plant is carefully removed from the soil, the roots are washed under running water. After this, the tree is bathed in water at a temperature of 50°C. Exposure to hot water will help eliminate the pest, since at temperatures above 40°C the nematode dies. After bathing, the plant is transplanted into fresh soil with the addition of a small dose of contact poison containing verkema-ruskamin. This will eliminate even a large accumulation of the parasite.

To prevent lemon pests from appearing at home, it is recommended to carry out prevention. To do this, citrus leaves are regularly sprayed or wiped, especially on the underside. It is useful to periodically wipe the wood with soapy water with the addition of laundry soap, followed by rinsing with warm water.

Methods of control and prevention

Many gardeners are interested in how to get rid of such insects and save their favorite plant. It is not so easy to destroy scale insects, since their body is covered with a dense protective shell. But it’s worth trying various modern mechanical and chemical means, folk methods, and combining them to achieve results.

Mechanical

When choosing how best to deal with lemon pests, it is worth trying a mechanical method, which involves using a cotton swab or an old toothbrush with alcohol or an alcohol-containing preparation applied to them.

It is necessary to carefully but gently wipe the places where parasites accumulate. If after manipulating with a cotton swab there are still a lot of them left, use a toothbrush. This method is considered simple, but in reality everything turns out to be more complicated, since there are usually a lot of scale insects and they are located in hard-to-reach places. The pot is first placed in a bag.

Chemical

Experienced flower growers know how difficult it is to remove scale insects manually, so they use chemicals to be safe.

To get rid of insects that look like microscopic turtles, the broad-spectrum product “Actellik”, which has a destructive effect on the pest’s body, will help. The treatment should be carried out on the street or balcony, since the product has a specific smell and can cause a headache or an allergic reaction in a person. If the drug was used in a residential area, it must be ventilated afterwards.

Another popular remedy is Aktara. It is as safe as possible for human health, but can destroy scale insects literally in a day. You can pour the drug under the root of the plant, then it gets inside the insect through the juice and destroys it. Spraying is also carried out, after which the plant is protected from parasite attacks for a month.

The drug of the biological group "Fitoverm" is an insecticide that affects the functioning of the intestines of parasites. After treatment, you can use the fruits of the plant after 2-3 days, since the active substance does not affect the condition of the earth and decomposes quite quickly.

Folk

Traditional methods proven by many generations are still used today, but they are less effective than chemicals. These are various tinctures based on onions, garlic, tobacco, fresh pepper, soap and machine oil, which act only on larvae.

To prepare an onion infusion, chop 1 medium-sized onion, which is infused for half a day in 1 liter of water. After filtering, wipe the surface of the foliage with the prepared product.

You can chop 5 cloves of garlic and pour 1 glass of water over them, then leave for 10 hours and use.

An infusion of tobacco or shag is also used, mixing the main component in an amount of 2 tbsp. l. in 0.5 liters of water.

A good result is also obtained by using a tincture of 50 g of fresh crushed pepper, boiled in 0.5 liters of water, infused for 2 hours and strained.

A solution is also prepared from 5–10 g of soap, whipped into foam in 1 glass of water, adding up to 30 g of machine oil. After spraying with this product, the tree is left untouched for 6–12 hours, and then rinsed with warm water. The frequency of treatment is 2–3 times a week.

Sources

• https://seloved.ru/limon/shchitovka-na-kak-izbavitsya.html
• https://SeloMoe.ru/limon/shchitovka-kak-izbavitsya.html
• https://apest.ru/shchitovka/shchitovka-na-limone/
• https://www.udec.ru/derevo/limon-vrediteli.php
• https://dezbox.ru/dezinsekciya/kak-izbavitsya-ot-shhitovki-na-limone-svoimi-silami/
• https://MyOrchidea.ru/tsitrusovye/shhitovka-na-limone/

Prevention and home remedies

All mites do not tolerate moist air well, so frequent spraying and periodic warm showers for plants are a good preventative measure. Timely removal of faded buds and old yellowed leaves may be useful. Mite eggs can retain live larvae for five years, so even with the apparent complete destruction of pests, there is always a risk that they will infect a plant or a collection of crops. Therefore, it makes sense to monitor the sterility of the soil when replanting a flower or washing its roots.

Another, albeit indirect, method of prevention is healthy plants with strong immunity.

Conditions suitable for lemon, sufficient lighting, timely replanting and pruning, periodic spraying with stimulants (Epin) will ensure that pests, even if they exist, will not be able to cause significant harm to the plant simply because the walls of the vessels are strong, elastic and quickly regenerated. Temporary or long-term violation of care conditions (withered leaves, heat, dryness, draft) - and mites quickly occupy the weakened plant.

It is not always possible to use strong drugs at home, for example, there may be children in the house or it is not possible to ventilate the room well. Please note: no “home” method can guarantee complete destruction, since the mites are very small. The following will help to partially cope with the pest on the lemon tree:

1. Medical alcohol 96%. It will only get rid of adult pests; eggs cannot be destroyed, but with regular treatment it is possible to reduce the pest population. It evaporates quickly, so it does not damage the green mass, but it is not suitable for plants with thin leaves (lemon leaves are quite dense).
2. Green soap. This is a special substance, environmentally friendly and completely safe for plants. Dilute soap in a proportion of 200 g (4 tbsp) per 10 liters of water. It is necessary to carefully spray the lemon tree with the resulting solution, paying special attention to the nodes, the underside of the leaves, and the axils. When processing, the pot should be covered with film, since soap, when it gets into the soil, disrupts its acidity.
3. Laundry soap. Use a sponge to whip up foam and apply to leaves and branches. Leave for 3-4 hours, the soap will dry, forming a film. It is not very well tolerated by the plant itself, so the soap should be washed off, and the still wet flower should be wrapped in film and left overnight. The next morning you need to let the plant breathe and then repeat the procedure. This sequence is repeated at least three times. It is advisable that soapy water does not get on the ground, although spraying the surface layer cannot harm the roots. You should absolutely not spill soapy water on a clod of soil; most likely, the lemon will die.
4. Dishwashing liquid. Effects on pests no worse than soap. It is advisable to take a product for treating children's accessories. The procedure is similar to that described above. In any case, if you wash the leaves of the plant, this will remove more than half of all mites. Be sure to disinfect the pot and the place where the plant stood.
5. Garlic infusion and onion juice. Due to the characteristic odor, they are rarely used. The garlic infusion is prepared as follows: chop 2 heads of the vegetable, add 1 liter of water, leave for a week. The resulting infusion is diluted with water 2 times and the affected leaves are wiped.

Video “Diseases and pests of lemon”

From this video you will learn about what diseases and pests are dangerous for lemon and how to treat it.

Lemon is a delicate plant that is loved by many pests. We have already discussed - it's time to talk about pests.

Shchitovka

Perhaps the most common pest of lemon. These are insects that appear as small brownish spots on the underside of leaves. As a rule, scale insects settle on weakened plants, and you need to fight them as quickly and persistently as possible. If scale insects have moved to the top of the leaf, it means there are too many of them, and in the near future the homemade lemon may die. Sticky secretions are also the work of scale insects. As a rule, at this stage the plant dies; usually control measures in this case are ineffective.

Fighting methods:

1. You can fight scale insects with a soap mixture - for this, take transformator and green soap in a ratio of 4:1, pour 20 g of the soap mixture into 1 liter of water, and then spray the lemon with this solution. You can treat the lemon with the same mixture using a toothbrush - this method is even more effective, since you mechanically remove pests from the plant.

2. 50 g of tobacco leaves are poured into 1 liter of water. After two days, you can wash the lemon leaves with this infusion. The procedure will need to be repeated several times.

3. Based on 1 liter of water - 4 g of green soap and 2 g of anabasine sulfate. You can wash or spray the lemon with this mixture, and after a day give it a shower with clean water. The procedure is repeated after a week.

4. Blend the onion with a blender until a homogeneous mass is formed. Make “compresses” from the pulp on the affected parts of the plant, and then wash off.

Chervets

The scale insect is an insect ranging in size from three to six millimeters. Signs of lemon insect damage are sticky discharge on the leaves, their yellowing and falling off. The control method is the same as point 1 in the list of methods for eliminating scale insects.

Small insects of green or black color.

Fighting methods:

1. Similar to point 2 in methods of combating scale insects.

2. Chop the peeled garlic cloves and add water. After a day, the infusion can be used to spray lemon.

3. Spraying with any of the infusions - hot pepper, nightshade, yarrow - will also help fight aphids on lemon.

Spider mite

Is there a cobweb on the underside of the leaf? Are the leaves turning yellow, drying out, curling, or do they have white dots on them? Most likely, your lemon is damaged by spider mites. It often starts in dry air and high temperatures. For prevention, you can bathe the lemon in warm water or spray it frequently. To combat ticks, use the tips below:

Fighting methods:

1. Bathing lemon in warm water.

2. Spraying with infusion of yarrow, nightshade, dandelion; tobacco, garlic and onion skins are also great for controlling spider mites.

3. Pollinate the plant with sulfur.

Paduras

They grow in moist soil - most likely your lemon is over-watered. Paduras are white insects that hop around in the lemon pot.

Control methods are to let the earthen clod dry, and then sprinkle the soil with Persian chamomile powder.

Earthworms

Found in lemon soil mixture if you overwater it.

Control methods are to pour water on the lemon, heated to exactly 40°C, and when the worms come out, collect them. Repeat the procedure.

Pesticide

To control pests of indoor lemons, you can use ready-made pesticides - they are presented in a wide variety in flower shops

But when using these tools, it is important to know a few rules for working with them:. And let your plant always be healthy - most importantly, lemon pests must be destroyed promptly and persistently!

And let your plant always be healthy - most importantly, lemon pests must be destroyed promptly and persistently!

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Growing a beautiful plant and never encountering its enemies is an unrealistic situation. Midges and harmful microorganisms crawl into the most sealed places. The only place is a vacuum, but it is contraindicated for all living organisms. So, let's talk about harmful midges and nasty spores of all kinds of fungi, necrosis, etc.

What to do if you find a scale insect on a flower?

The flower on which these creatures dangerous to vegetation have settled must be isolated from all others.
It is recommended to carefully examine the plants in the house in order to promptly cure infected ones, and at the same time protect healthy ones. Considering that the bugs are very small in size, and the larvae are even smaller, it is recommended to use a magnifying glass during inspection. First of all, you need to pay attention to the trunk, leaves and leaf axils.

The plants are treated with a soap solution, that is, they are washed well. Then it is advisable to use an insecticide to completely remove the scale insect and its larvae, as well as “traces of their activity.” You need to take a cotton swab, moisten it in an insecticide solution and use it to remove insects.

When the leaves are dry, you need to completely spray the plant with an insecticide from a spray bottle. The solution should also get onto the soil. Next, you need to wrap the flower in plastic for 30 minutes, and after a couple of days you can wash off the dead pests. In principle, the fight against scale insects on indoor plants is not difficult, but long.

Next, you should begin treating the area where the infected flower stood. It is also first wiped with a soapy solution, and preferably not with a rag, but with a brush. Then the place should dry out.

How to help a lemon recover from illness

When a lemon has been cured of any disease, it will need to restore its strength and immunity. To do this, you should provide it with enhanced nutrition with complex fertilizers (but not overdo it), and also treat/feed it with growth stimulants. The most famous among them:

• Zircon;
• Amulet;
• Immunocytophyte;
• Epin.

If a lemon bloomed in the first year after a serious illness, then it is better to remove the flowers in order to preserve its strength to recover.

Growing lemons in an apartment is accessible only to a dedicated and attentive amateur. Only by scrupulously following the rules of agricultural technology can you count on a positive result.