Tibouchina Tree Pest Complex: Holes, Scale, and Cultural Needs

Sorting Multiple Issues

A tibouchina with leaf holes, white crusty insects (scale), yellowing leaves, and Malathion failure has three problems:

1. Leaf holes: Slugs/snails (inside) or grasshoppers (outside)—neem oil deters both.
2. White crusty insects: Scale—Malathion kills crawlers but not armored adults; neem oil + manual removal works better.
3. Yellow leaves: Likely transplant shock or sun stress.

Integrated Approach

• Spray neem oil thoroughly (undersides, soil surface)—repels slugs, smothers scale.
• Scrub off dead scale with soft brush.
• Site adjustment: Morning sun/afternoon shade preferred; good drainage critical.
• Watering: More frequent in sandy soil; let dry slightly between.

Pruning Timing

Prune after bloom cycle. Tibouchina blooms on new wood—post-flower pruning shapes without sacrificing flowers.

Neem's multi-action (insecticide, miticide, fungicide, repellent) replaces failed single-mode chemicals.