AusBonsai

So my mel is starting to really get some growth now thinking it maybe time to chop, what are your opinions? Also on the first pic I have black spots which ants keep walking to & from. Anyone know what these are? Sorry photos from phone not best quality.

Its got scale. Get some Confidor and give it a good spray.

Thankyou.

You can also use a white oil for the scale if you have some of that.

cheers i have some confidor so i`ll give that a go first

It's not that big of a plant-I would just squash the scale off.
As for wether to chop now...depends in how big a plant you want when it's "finished". Personally I would either leave it and let it thicken a bunch, or wire and put a bunch of twists and turns and then let it thicken.

Isitangus wrote:It's not that big of a plant-I would just squash the scale off.
As for wether to chop now...depends in how big a plant you want when it's "finished". Personally I would either leave it and let it thicken a bunch, or wire and put a bunch of twists and turns and then let it thicken.

Completely agree. But you can also spray with confidor at the base too, after you've picked off the scale.

awesome thanks guys will let it thicken some and spray with confidor as i already have some

I don't spray anything. Scale killed one of my small Ilex. I saw a black speck on it and thought it was a fruit. Then six months later, its leaves were going yellow. I was too late to save it, picked off 3 dozen scale, the black/brown ones. Just pick them off, they don't run, leave them out for the birds. They luv 'em. I have a old Hydrangea outside my study window, one year I noted the scale on their leaves. But the finches and sparrows soon got rid of them. Best of luck. Actually an experienced horticulturalist told me picking them off was the only way. Indoor plants can get them too, if summered outside.

I would also just scratch the scale insect off and wire while it is young and flexible. Maybe cut the growing tip off to get some side shoots which will turn into branches then let them grow and thicken it up.

As far as ants are concerned I heard of a good organic recipe. Crush bay leaves, dried or fresh, and sprinkle it on the soil and around the pot. I just pick scale off, either with your nails or with some tweezers. I don't or avoid sprays, and cover the soil surface with plastic if I should spray, which has been once for ants and a fungicide. Especially the latter as this can eventually with rain drop into the soil and kill the good fungi present.

Depending on what type of scale bug, there are several varieties and some also get into the soil around the roots. Gud luck. It might be a good idea to repot it in new fresh soil, and give it a bit of a root prune, this also gives the plant some surge of growth and with the leave pruning it should do well.

If I see ants its a warning to me to see what they are hunting, or milking. And birdies do pinch my moss sometimes, and I press the moss pads in with hair pins for stability.