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Treating Scale on Nepenthes with Systemic Insecticide

N. Caesar scale

Question: Scale on Nepenthes 'Caesar'. Neem oil worked temporarily but returned. Recommend alternate treatment?

Answer: Use systemic insecticide: Ortho Systemic Insect Killer (acephate) or pyrethrin/permethrin-based. Mix per label. Nepenthes tolerate most insecticides.

Follow-up: Apply with tank sprayer (1 oz/gal). Spray tops and undersides; avoid pitchers but incidental contact okay. Systemic works internally for ~30 days. No rinse needed. Check nearby plants (Phalaenopsis orchids often harbor scale). Wear gloves—smells strong.

Good Growing!

— Jeff Dallas, Sarracenia Northwest

Carnivorous Plants: Unknown Moss as Nepenthes Mulch: Test Cautiously; Nepenthes Scale and Sooty Mold: Insecticidal Soap for Scale, Ignore Mold; Surviving a Winter Power Outage: Assessing Cold Damage in Nepenthes; Nepenthes 'Miranda' Not Pitchering? Give It More Sun; Red Spots on Nepenthes Leaves: Natural Nectar Glands, Not Scale; Ortho Systemic on Nepenthes with Live Sphagnum: Moss Safety; Growing Nepenthes macrophylla: Ultra-Highlander Challenges; Treating Scale on Schefflera: Alcohol Spray Safety; Using Imidacloprid Systemic for Scale on Indoor Jasmine and Lemon; Eliminating Scale Insects on Bird of Paradise Plants

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